Preet Mandir in Pune challenges revocation of licence

Preet Mandir adoption centre in Pune has moved the Bombay high court challenging the state’s decision of revoking its licence to carry out adoptions within India.

In November, in a letter issued by the state, the Centre was told that action has been taken against it based on the FIR lodged by CBI.

Counsel for Preet Mandir told the court that as a result of the state’s decision, the process of rehabilitating children from the home with adoptive families had been stalled.

State’s counsel told the court that CBI’s findings revealed that Preet Mandir had accepted more than Rs50,000 from over 70 adoptive families between 2005 and 2010 which is not permissible under the law.

Central government counsel Revati Dere told the court that an FIR had been lodged against Joginder Bhasin who runs the centre. She said it was found that the centre had misappropriated funds and misled parents into giving their children for adoption.

On behalf of NGOs Sakh-ee and Advait Foundation, advocates Rajesh Mirchandani and Pradeep Havnur sought to file an intervention. Bombay high court, however, held that they had no locus standi.