This American couple has three children, they are fifty years old. The husband is suffering from cerebral palsy so he is physically handicapped. Now this couple wanted to adopt an Indian boy who is nine year old. They went to an Indian adoption agency, the Welfare Home for children in Delhi. The agency was too happy to help them out and gave them a no-objection certificate required to legalize adoption.

But the District Court thwarted their appeal in 2008 on the grounds that since the couple was already having three biological children and that adoptive father was suffering from cerebral palsy, the child would not get the right care. The child who is now nine year old will face difficulty in picking the language and the manner of living in USA.

They moved the High Court who also was of the same view as that of District Court and went further in condemning the Adoption Agency which had given the no-objection certificate without any application of mind. Also it imposed a fine of Rs 20000/- for this frivolous appeal. It certainly had some valid points to make.

1). Why the couple wanted only an Indian child and not one from their own country who will be quicker in adapting to their family.

2). Having three children already the need to extent their family further at this stage is not very convincing.

3). It is possible that upbringing of an additional child with one parent physically handicapped will be neglected.

It was very clear in stating that the reason behind adoption was to exploit the child and use him as a domestic help. It is rare to find such humane approach towards such delicate issue.

The decision may be right But somehow I keep visualizing the face of that nine year old boy who must have known about his coming adoption, as this couple must have met him. He must have started weaving dreams around the family life he would have, but now all his dreams have been shattered.