Maha govt tells HC it will bring its own rules on child adoption

Mumbai: Maharashtra government has informed the Bombay High Court that it intends to introduce its own rules on child adoption but until they are brought into force, the existing model rules framed by the Centre shall be operative in the state. [caption id=“attachment_715742” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] This was stated in an affidavit filed by the state government on November 24 before a bench headed by Chief Justice Dr Manjula Chellur, which was hearing a petition filed by Santosh Digambar Honkarapeand others. According to the state government, the Centre had its own set of rules on child adoption but Maharashtra intended to frame its own rules by bringing about modifications in the Central rules. The Centre had told Bombay 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. Thereafter, the Centre framed its own rules on child adoption and informed this to the high court which in turn asked the state government whether it would accept this or bring its own rules. Now that Maharashtra has decided to frame its own rules, it would set into motion the process for introducing this by seeking approval of both the houses of legislature, said the state government affidavit. Cara had earlier come out with guidelines after being directed by the Supreme Court in a similar case. Meanwhile, the high court, on 24 November, directed Cara to come out with a set of guidelines once again so far as the adoption procedure contemplated in the 2015 Act. The matter has been posted for hearing on 13 January.