The integrated child protection scheme (ICPS) floated by the central government may come to the aid of children repatriated from failed adoptions.
The Bombay high court, which is in the process of framing guidelines to make foreign adoptions safer for children, said on Thursday that if the Central Adoption Resources Authority (Cara) had already appointed an expert committee to attend to the matter, they should have also constituted a fund for the welfare of children returning from failed adoptions.
After hearing the case of 14-year-old Mita who was repatriated to India after her adoptive parents — both US nationals — failed to look after her, on February 5, the court revoked the order granting Mita’s custody to them, five years after her adoption.
Jagannath Pati of the Cara told the court that 22 states had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the union government to constitute ICPS under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Pati told the court that Maharashtra too is in the process signing the MoU. He said this fund could be utilised to cater to children whose adoptions, both domestic and international, have failed.
“So long as they have an earmarked fund, it would serve the purpose,” justice DY Chandrachud said.
