Will you adopt central model rules on child adoption? HC asks Maharashtra govt

The Bombay high court has asked the Maharashtra government to clarify whether it would adopt the model rules framed by the Centre on child adoption or it intends to bring about modifications after discussing the same with the authorities concerned.

A division bench of chief justice Dr Manjula Chellur and justice MS Sonak asked the state government to make its stand clear on the model rules framed by the Centre on child adoption.

The bench noted that the Centre had already come out with the Central model rules in terms of directions issued by the high court earlier and had published the same in Gazette dated September 21, 2016.

"Now the state government should make its stand clear whether it was adopting the Central model rules or whether it proposed to carry out modifications after discussing the same with the concerned authorities," said the bench in its order on November 16 while hearing a petition filed by Federation of Adoption Agencies.

"We direct the state to place on record its stand next week. Stand over (adjourned) to November 24," said the Judges.

The Centre had told the high court in May this year that within two months it will frame model rules for the states to follow before Central Adoption Resources Authority (CARA) brings out new guidelines for adoption and added that in the meanwhile, 2015 guidelines issued by CARA will continue. CARA had earlier come out with guidelines after being directed by the Supreme Court in a similar case.