Bombay high court okays rehab of 86 kids through domestic adoption

The Bombay high court on Monday permitted Pune-based adoption agency Preet Mandir to rehabilitate 86 children through domestic adoption. The agency had challenged the government’s decision to transfer the children to other orphanages and suspension of domestic adoption. At present, the children are housed at two centres of Preet Mandir in the city.

The high court decision came following an affidavit filed by deputy secretary to the state women and child development department, SP Ware, who stated that “the state government, as a special case, has no objection if domestic adoption is done for the rehabilitation of children at Preet Mandir.”

The agency is under scanner for its alleged involvement in wrong adoption practices. The licence of Preet Mandir for foreign adoptions was revoked on May 20, 2010 while the licence for
domestic adoption was suspended on June 16 last year.

Preet Mandir had challenged the government order to transfer the
children to other agencies and had obtained a stay.

A total of 114 children stay in the two centres of the agency. Of these, 28 were put up for foreign adoptions after the agency’s licence was revoked.

The high court has now paved the way for domestic adoptions of the remaining 86 children.

Sources said that the management of Preet Mandir will now make efforts for rehabilitation of these children. Indian couples can register their names for adopting children at 18, Dr Coyaji Road, Camp.