Adoption proceedings stayed by court till Nov 1, Anupama expresses relief

Anupama S Chandran
Anupama S Chandran

Thiruvananthapuram: Adoption proceedings which involved the transfer of former student activist Anupama Chandran's child to foster parents were stayed by a court here on Monday.

The case would be considered again on November 1.

The court also asked the government to submit the findings of the police investigation in a sealed envelope at the next hearing.

The Vanchiyoor Family Court was announcing the verdict on the controversial adoption process of an infant claimed by its mother Anupama Chandran, a former activist of the Students Federation of India.

The court also rapped the Child Welfare Committee for its disputable actions. "Was the child abandoned or received from its guardians," the court asked while seeking clarification from the committee.

"I'm relieved and grateful to the court for its decision," Anupama responded after the court hearing.

"Though I'm hoping to get my child back, I try not to keep my expectations high. I'm often left disappointed when I keep my hopes high," she sounded cautious. 

The government pleader had informed the court that the child's mother was alive and that she has demanded posession of her child.

The court will consider the government's request to halt the adoption proceedings till the investigation in the case was completed.

Child to continue in foster parents' custody

The child will continue in the custody of its foster parents till a final decision is made. It has been learnt that  a teacher couple in Andhra Pradesh has adopted Anupama's baby.

Anupama had earlier approached the court asking it to make her a party in the case.

The foster parents or Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) may seek appeal against the decision at a higher court. CARA is the nodal agency in all adoption proceedings in India.

The baby was handed over to the Andhra couple on August 7 for a temporary period under the supervision of CARA. The adoption details were provided to the agency by the state's Child and Welfare Committee.

Anupama, daughter of a CPM local committee member, whose baby had been put up for adoption by her parents last year without her knowledge, had stated earlier she has no faith in the police probe into the matter.

Speaking to reporters, she said the police had told her that it has initiated investigation based on her complaint made in September but has not taken into consideration her complaints made in April to the police as well as to the Chief Minister.

"In such a situation, I do not have faith in the police investigation," she said.

Meanwhile, six people including Anupama's parents sought anticipatory bail after a case was registered on Anupama's complaint. The district court would take up their pleas for consideration on October 28.

On Saturday, State Health Minister Veena George said the government's stand was that the child should be with the mother itself and the government has decided to intervene in the matter before the final adoption order.

"The child is currently in foster care. The adopting parents register with the national-level central adoption and resources agency for adopting the child. All these matters are monitored by the court. The final order is yet to come. It's a complex process. But our policy is that the child should be with the mother," she told the media.

Anupama on Saturday staged a hunger strike before the State Secretariat demanding that her child be returned to her. She has accused her parents of having taken away her newborn child forcibly from her soon after its birth a year ago and alleged that though she had complained about it to the police several times since April, they were reluctant to register a case against the family members. However, Peroorkkada police here has said a case was registered earlier this week against six people, including her parents, sister and husband, and father's two friends, and said the delay happened as they were awaiting legal opinion.

(With PTI inputs.)

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