HC takes serious view of child adoption, will issue guidelines

October 11, 2009

Mumbai: In an order that might make adoption of children by foreign couples stricter, the Bombay High Court has said that it will soon frame guidelines to ensure that such kids do not develop behavioural problems after they are given in adoption abroad.

"Psychiatric screening should be made compulsory for kids before they are given in adoption to couples abroad," observed justice DY Chandrachud while appointing Additional Solicitor General D J Khambatta as amicus curiae (friend of the court)

to assist in framing guidelines.

"Many children who are placed in guardianship of parents abroad have had a disturbed childhood. Unless adequate psychiatric evaluation is carried out prior to placement of a child in guardianship and even thereafter, the child may develop serious behavioural problems," the judge observed.

The judge also sought help from Asha Bajpai, Professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, to give her expert opinion in formulating guidelines for adoption of children by couples abroad.

The court was hearing a petition seeking medical costs from a foreign couple and a adoption agency for a girl who was repatriated to India and given psychiatric treatment after she developed behavioural problems in her home abroad.