Pendency falls in the rate of adoption of children two months after notification

Source: The post is based on the article “Pendency falls in the rate of adoption of children two months after notification” published in The Hindu on 7th December 2022

What is the News?

Of the 905 adoption cases pending with the various courts in the country, as many as 361 adoption orders have been issued in just two months since the new Adoption Regulations were notified.

What are the new adoption rules notified?

The Adoption regulations, 2022 have been notified under the amended Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act),2015.

Key provisions of the rules

Firstly, the rules empower District Magistrates to issue adoption orders. Earlier, this power was exercised by the judiciary.

Secondly, pre-and post-adoptive counselling sessions will be provided to prospective adoptive parents by counsellors trained with the help of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences(NIMHANS).

Thirdly, prospective adoptive parents can now opt for children from their home State or region. This has been mandated to ensure that the child and the family adjust well with each other, belonging to the same socio-cultural milieu.

Fourthly, children placed in foster care by Child Welfare Committees(CWC) used to wait for five years for adoption. Now, the new regulations provide that if the child adjusts well with the foster family, the foster family can adopt the child after two years of fostering.

Fifthly, to promote in-country adoptions, a new provision has been made under which those children who could not find families within their stipulated referral cycles are now being offered to willing resident Indians, non-resident Indians and overseas citizens of India, irrespective of their seniority.