New Delhi: “A couple has expressed their desire to adopt a child born to an unmarried B.Tech student,” said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in the Supreme Court.
A 21-year-old B.Tech student became pregnant. He was thrown out of the college hostel after this caused controversy. After that, he stayed at his relative’s house. They tried to terminate her pregnancy. A case was registered after learning about the matter. A team of AIIMS doctors who examined the student told the court that terminating the fetus would endanger the lives of both the mother and the child. The court then asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Patti to take care of the student till delivery.
Meanwhile, the student’s sister got married. Aishwarya has contacted him and asked if he will adopt the child to be born. He refused.
The case came up for hearing in the Supreme Court yesterday. As this case is different, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha and JP Pardiwala called it in their chambers. At that time, lawyer Amit Mishra, appearing on behalf of the student, said, “The student’s father died of corona infection. Mother is also in poor health. Therefore, the student should be helped to stay,” he requested.
Then Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Patti said, “I will keep the student safe at my house until she is admitted to AIIMS for delivery.” Hearing that, the judges appreciated Aishwarya a lot.
Then Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the judges, “A couple has expressed their desire to adopt a child who is going to be born to a student. They are registered with the Central Adoption Commission. Their names and details must be kept confidential in court documents. The details of the adoptive couple should not be disclosed to the student. If the adoption procedures are completed, the child will have a better future,” he appealed.
Subsequently, the order given by the judges is as follows: The student should be admitted to the AIIMS hospital and given good medical assistance till delivery. Post-natal care should also be done. The young couple is also given permission to adopt the unborn child. The Central Adoption Commission should speedily complete the procedures for that. The details of the adopters must be kept confidential in all documents of the Supreme Court.
We were very stressed about this issue. Our sincere appreciation to Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Patti for her humane handling of this complex matter. Thus the judges ordered.
It is to be noted that the judges passed the order on this issue using the special powers conferred on the Supreme Court under Article 142 of the Constitution.
