ADOPTION
A child is the blessing to parents and a
family as a whole, but unfortunately, this blessing is not given to everyone,
some due to one or the other reason doesn’t conceal a child. At those times and
in such a situation, many of the couples decide to adopt a child, but many of the
couples are unaware of the rights and laws relating to the adoption or
guardianship.
Adoption means the couples who adopt the
child for themselves, guardian in simple words means the person who takes care
of the child after the parents may be due to the divorce, death or any other
circumstances.
The Indian / Hindu Law since ancient time
have granted laws for the adoption and guardian of the child. The basis of
Hindu Law adoption is spiritual and secular. The adoptive son or the adoptive
father becomes a coparcener and can acquire a share in coparcenaries
property.
For every Hindu son, it is
essential to offer the benefits of the property. If the father dies and has no
child ultimately owes the property to the widow, where the widow adopts the
child and he /she, in turn, shares the property.
Whenever the unmarried son dies he
indirectly owns to the mother.
- There is a certain condition to a Valid Adoption: the Hindu law of Adoption is codified in the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act 196. Any adoption made under this act will be termed as void. Void adoption can never be changed. An adoptive father can gift some property to the adoptive son.
- Under Section 6 the Act states a certain condition for void adoption: the person should be capable, the person given in adoption must have the capacity, adopted must have the capacity to get adopted, other necessary conditions to be fulfilled.
But after noticing we came
across like there can be involvement of 3rd party as in the name of
the guardian.
According to Hindu Law, a
sonless man can adopt a son. Even a bachelor or widower can adopt a son.
However, there were no possibilities to adopt a daughter. So the wife was
allowed to adopt a son to her husband as an agent.
Certain conditions were
imposed: he
should not be a minor or a lunatic. The male can adopt a child if he is of
sound mind if he has a wife he can adopt with his wife’s consent under section
7.
·
A married woman cannot adapt
herself so she can only adopt if she is: if she is divorced, she is a widow if
the husband has reannounced himself completely. if the husband converts in other
religions. if declared lunatic by the court.
·
Females can adopt a son or
daughter.
The guardian can only give
the child in adoption only if the father or mother is dead. If they are
completely renounced. When they are decided by the court as an unsound mind.
The court has certain powers in the
adoption process: the adoption must be for the welfare of the child. The
person adopting must be of the same caste. They should be living near the
relation. The person should be kind and affectionate.
Under section 10
there are certain provisions imposed to adopt a son as well as a daughter.
·
There should be no restriction
on caste.
·
The child to be adopted should
be unmarried and below 15 years of age.
·
When Hindu Adopts a child there
must be a difference of 21 years.
Law of Guardianship Act relating to
minority and guardianship among is now
codified under the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act of 1956 :
- The act defines the person under the age of 18 years as a Minor.
- If the Hindu Minor has a Guardian appointed by the court it continues till the age of 21.
- Guardian takes care of: the minor, his property, both
Guardianship depends upon the trust,
therefore the person who is the guardian cannot switch or give his duties to
the other person as a guardian but he can only give the custody to the other
person whereas he will only be the guardian, he can give custody to the other
but not the Guardianship. This was clear in the case of Anne Besant Vs
Narayanath.
Certain conditions are imposed for Natural
Guardian under Section 6 of the Act.
·
The father will be the Natural
guardian in case of son & Unmarried daughter & after him, the mother
becomes the guardian.
·
The mother will be the Natural
Guardian in case of an illegitimate boy or unmarried daughter, after her, the father becomes the Guardian.
·
In case if the daughter is
married, the custody of a minor below 5 years remains with the mother, but the father
only is the Guardian. If the father wishes he can appeal to the court and take
the custody of the child to him.
Remember the child has a Natural Guardian from the period the child is born, later it
depends on the provisions described under the Act.
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