Coming down heavily on the States for not complying with its previous directions to expedite the adoption process, the Supreme Court gave them one last opportunity to comply with the directions, failing which the Apex Court may resort to coercive proceedings.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra on Friday made the observations while hearing a PIL filed by “The Temple of Healing,” a charitable trust, seeking simplication of adoption procedures.
The top court of the country had earlier issued certain directions to make adoption process in India easier. These included filling of vacancies in the Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAA).
As soon as the hearing commenced, the CJI asked Additional Solicitor General of India Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, about the status report.
The ASG apprised the Court that the status report has been filed, indicating that more steps were required from the State’s end. She said that even today, out of 760 districts in 370 districts, there was no SAA functioning.
She requested the States to be given the last opportunity to comply with the directions, adding that an updated status report will be filed before the Court thereafter.
Petitione-in-person and office-bearer of the Temple of Healing, Dr. Piyush Saxena, referred to the detailed framework he had submitted. He insisted that the solutions he had cited were practical and simple.
The Apex Court observed that comprehensive directions have already been issued, and the Court wanted to make them implementable.
The Bench then told the petitioner that it would look at those suggestions and further deliberate on how the directions already passed could be strengthened.
The Apex Court directed the Union government to communicate about the instant order to all States and Union Territories and accordingly, place an updated status report.
It further directed the States to submit the data to the Ministry of Child Development on or before April 7. The Union of India shall collate the data and present it to the Court by April 14, added the Bench.