Author: Mahendra Kumar Singh
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 19, 2007
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2547155.cms
In a significant move to enhance the legal
rights of both adopted children and the couples who give them a home, the
Centre has changed the law to allow non-Hindu parents to claim full parenthood
instead of just "guardian" status that they were allowed till now.
The changes in law also seek to encourage
adoption by simplifying procedures.
Under the law so far, only Hindu couples who
adopted children could claim to be "parents". Non-Hindus were just
guardians to their adopted children. This led to the children being denied
rights to inherited property besides creating procedural hassles for parents
at the time of school admissions etc.
Some clarifications may still be needed on
whether the changes would apply to Muslims as the community has its personal
laws. These will be cleared in the guidelines to be framed by Central Adoption
Research Agency. The new law also makes adoption by inter-faith couples easier.
Under the new guidelines issued by the women
and child development ministry under the Juvenile Justice Act 2000, amended
last year and notified on October 26, the new rules will also cut red-tapism
in adoption procedures while increasing the number of recognised adoption
agencies.
