Maneka Gandhi for central tribunal on adoption-related cases

NEW DELHI: Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi today met top officials from Law and Justice Ministry to press for setting up a central tribunal for adoption cases.

The Minister told PTI she wants a central tribunal headed by a former Supreme Court judge so that there can be a single-point person dealing with cases from across the country.

Secretary, Law Suresh Chandra and Secretary, Snehlata Shrivastava met the Minister in her office this evening over the matter.

Legal hurdles have often been cited as one of the main reasons for delay in the lawful transfer of a child to the adoptive family.

There are nearly 1,800 children available for adoption for approximately 12,000 parents registered on the website of the central adoption body- Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).

As a result, parents have to wait for nearly a year to be able to take home a child. This wait is further prolonged when adoption cases are stuck at various courts, according to officials.

As per CARA guidelines a court has to dispose a case "within a period of two months from the date of filing of the adoption petition by the specialised adoption agency" but it often takes much longer.

Maneka Gandhi has also written to Chief Justices of High Courts and District Judges across the country in the past requesting them to expedite cases.

The minister is known to take keen interest in resolving on daily basis cases of adoption facing procedural delays and often speaks to judges and the officials concerned herself.