Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000
41. Adoption.-
1.
The
primary responsibility for providing care and protection to children shall be
that of his family.
2.
Adoption
shall be resorted to for the rehabilitation of the children who are orphan,
abandoned or surrendered through such mechanism as may be prescribed.
3.
In
keeping with the provisions of the various guidelines for adoption issued from
time to time, by the State Government, or the Central Adoption Resource Agency
and notified by the Central Government, children may be given in adoption by a
court after satisfying itself regarding the investigations having been carried
out, as are required for giving such children in adoption.
4.
The
State Government shall recognise one or more of its institutions or voluntary
organisations in each district as specialised adoption agencies in such manner
as may be prescribed for the placement of orphan, abandoned or surrendered
children for adoption in accordance with the guidelines notified under
sub-section (3):
Provided that the
children's homes and the institutions run by the State Government or a
voluntary organisation for children in need of care and protection, who are
orphan, abandoned or surrendered, shall ensure that these children are declared
free for adoption by the Committee and all such cases shall be referred to the
adoption agency in that district for placement of such children in adoption in
accordance with the guidelines notified under sub-section (3).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
No
child shall be offered for adoption -
a. until two members of
the Committee declare the child legally free for placement in the case of
abandoned children,
b. till the two months
period for reconsideration by the parent is over in the case of surrendered
children, and
c. without his consent
in the case of a child who can understand and express his consent.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The
Court may allow a child to be given in adoption -
a. to a person
irrespective of marital status; or
b. to parents to adopt a
child of same sex irrespective of the number of living biological sons or
daughters; or
c. to childless couples.
Sub-sections (2),
(3), (4), and (6) substituted vide Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of
Children) Amendment Act, 2006, section 21