Unfortunately, the dreaded pandemic has left many children extremely vulnerable, particularly those who have been orphaned. According to UNICEF, India has over 30 million orphan children. [1] This number would increase during this pandemic. There are the reports wherein, Child helpline number has recorded several calls for children whose both parents succumbed to COVID-19. [2]

The Constitution of India mandates State to ensure to children equal opportunities and protection against exploitation, moral and material abandonment. [3] The fundamental rights enshrined under Indian Constitution also guarantees rights to equality, to protection of life, to personal liberty, and against exploitation to children. [4] In addition to this, India retified the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child, [5] thus protections afforded to children became a legal mandate of all authorities and Courts. Moreover, India is also committed to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and target 3 specifically emphasis on good health and well-being for all. Furthermore, it is a duty of every citizen to protect the child from trafficking and in eradicating any form of exploitation.

Every day we come across messages or posts on our social media accounts regarding adoption of orphaned, surrendered and abandoned children who have either lost their parents due to COVID-19.Any such adoptions made through online posts or messages are illegal as it can be a trap for gullible persons in order to extort huge sums of money. These adoptions can also lead to legal proceedings even if the intent was to help the vulnerable. For the future of societies, it is vital that orphans, who may suffer irreparable losses if left at the mercy of the wrong people, are looked after. This article discusses the laws and procedures pertaining to handling and adoption of an orphan or surrendered child.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) (hereinafter JJ Act) was enacted in the year 2015. The Juvenile Justice Rules of 2016 and the Adoptions Regulations of 2017 created the Central Adoptions Resource Authority (CARA) as a statutory body for regulation, monitoring and control of all intra-country and inter-country adoptions. Furthermore, it is a nodal body to grant ‘no objection’ certificate for adoptions in accordance with the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption, 1993. This JJ Act is a secular law and anybody irrespective of their religion can adopt a child. The children who are declared to be free for adoption by the prescribed rules under JJ Act can be adopted. Any individual or organization found offering or adopting children in violation of these procedures invites punishment up to 3 years and a fine of Rs. 1 Lakh, or both. [6]

Firstly, in order to adopt a child, the prospective adoptive parents living in India irrespective of their religion, has to register their eligibility on the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS). [7] This is adjudged by specialized agencies followed by preparation of home study reports. Secondly, when their requests get approved the prospective child is offered which is then followed by proper pre-adoption foster care. Then the agencies who has offered the child for adoption has to fulfill all the legal requirements of adoptions such as taking court orders. In cases where prospective adoptive parents are non-resident Indian or overseas citizen of India, or person of Indian origin or a foreigner, then they have to register their eligibility to an authorized foreign adoption agency, or Central Authority or a concerned Government department in their country of habitual residence. [8] Further, those specialized agencies would prepare home study reports and upon finding them eligible they are handed over the profiles of children. However, the issuance of a ‘no objection’ certificate by CARA followed by Court order is mandatory here for a passport and visa to leave India.

However, apart from JJ Act, there is Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act of 1956.The people practicing Hindu religion can adopt child under this law.  One thing which is very clear is that there cannot be any adoption or rehabilitation of an orphaned or a surrendered child without undergoing strict mandatory procedures of adoptions and regulations prescribed under law.

As an individual, it is our duty to come together in order to eradicate such illicit practices of human trafficking and exploitation.  Any person should not blindly share or circulate any posts or messages about adoption of child. If anyone who come across an orphan, abandoned or surrendered child then he or she should immediately call child helpline number 1098 which is managed by Women and Child Development Authority. Moreover, the individuals can also seek help from the nearest police station or to report to the concerned District Protection Officer. It is the duty of the police officer to register a First Information Report in cases related to missing child or abduction of child. [9] It is pertinent to mention here that non-reporting of such cases attracts penal liability under JJ Act.

Children are considered to be supremely important asset of our nation and the future depends on how they grow and develop. During this pandemic a lot of families have been subjected to extreme socio-economic circumstances, family distress and other unfortunate causalities resulting in family disintegration and abandonment or surrendering of child. This affects the physical as well as mental wellbeing of such child.  Therefore, such child should not be neglected and left to face an uncertain future. An inter-disciplinary approach by collaboration and partnership between all the JJ functionaries and allied system is required to function with a single goal of ‘The Best Interest of the Child, and in a Child friendly environment.’ The National and State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and State Legal Services Authorities should be vigilant and must come into motion to stop such illegal activities and create awareness programs for general public. The role of media and NGO is important in creating mass awareness on social media to not to indulge in any such illegal adoptions. A joint public and private venture can only save an innocent child deprived of love and care to further fall prey to traders of human smuggling and exploitation