Archive · 31 Jan 2026
Telangana HC Rejects Customary Adoption, Upholds CARA Guidelines
The Telangana High Court said that adopting a child through traditional rituals is not enough.
The court told the parents who adopted a child this way that they must follow the legal process set by the government.
The parents had taken a child from someone involved in child trafficking, which is against the law.
The court said that even if the parents took good care of the child, they still need to follow the proper legal steps to adopt her.
The child will stay in a government care center until the legal adoption process is completed.
The court also said that a previous order by the Supreme Court in a similar case should not be used as a rule for other cases.
The Telangana High Court dismissed a petition by adoptive parents who adopted a child through customary rituals but not legally.
The court emphasized that any adoption not following CARA guidelines under the Juvenile Justice Act or Adoption Act is invalid.
The child was taken into protective custody after authorities found the adoption involved a child-trafficking offender.
The court noted that the parents may have cared for the child but legal procedures must be followed to prevent child trafficking.
The High Court clarified that a previous Supreme Court order in a similar case should not be treated as a precedent.
- Who
- Adoptive parents and the Telangana High Court
- What
- Dismissal of a petition for custody of a child adopted through customary rituals
- When
- June 2025 (child taken into custody), August 12, 2025 (Supreme Court order)
- Where
- Hyderabad, Telangana, India
- Why
- To uphold the legal adoption process and prevent child trafficking
- Petitioners
- Adoptive parents who performed customary adoption rituals
- Child's Age
- Approximately 2 years old
- Adoption Ritual
- Datha Homum (customary ritual)
- Legal Authority
- Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)
- Acts Violated
- Juvenile Justice Act, Adoption Act, Section 81 of Juvenile Justice Act, 2015
- Alleged Child-Trafficker
- Nakka Yadagiri
- Amount Paid
- ₹6 lakh
- Court's Decision
- Dismissed the petition, upheld legal adoption process
