Allow LGBTQ community members to adopt child: Parl panel

Abstract

A parliamentary panel in its report tabled on Monday has recommended allowing LGBTQ community members to adopt a child, apart from asserting the need for a uniform and comprehensive legislation on adoption which is more transparent, accountable, verifiable, less bureaucratic and applicable to all irrespective of religion in order to make adoptions less cumbersome.

“The committee notes that both the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act (HAMA) and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act provide for the adoption of children by married couple, single male and single female parents. The committee feels that the new legislation should cover LGBTQ community,” it is stated.

Addressing a long-standing concern, the standing committee on law and justice is of the view that the new legislation should avoid using the term ‘illegitimate’ as no child is illegitimate and the adoption law should be the same for all children, whether born within or out of the wedlock. Reviewing the guardianship laws, the committee calls for deletion of the term “illegitimate” in reference to a child born out of wedlock from the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act. [Read More]