Bombay HC stays transfer of adoption cases to district magistrates
asks single bench to continue hearing matters
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court has ordered an interim stay on transfer of pending adoption matters to district magistrates and directed a single bench judge of the HC to continue with adjudication in such cases till the next date of hearing in the case.
A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and S G Dige passed the order on Tuesday while hearing two petitions filed by couples challenging validity of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act 2021 by which the word 'court' was replaced with 'district magistrate'.
The effect of this amendment would mean all adoption cases, including foreign adoption cases, would be placed for final approval order before the district magistrate instead of the high court.
The HC also issued a notice to the Attorney General of India seeking the Union government's response to the petitions.
The bench in its order noted that until now adoption cases were being handled by judges of the high court.
"It has not been shown to us that there has been any complaint about the handling of these cases. We have yet to see the justification for the amendment," the court said in its order.
The HC said it has been handling such adoption cases for a very long period of time.
"Nothing is shown to us to indicate why for a limited period of time of about four weeks this should not be continued until we finally hear the challenge. No prejudice will be caused to any party if the existing system continues. On the contrary, the primary interest would be protected," the bench said.
It also refused to accept the contention put forth by the government that there has been a delay in the disposal of adoption cases by HC.
"We are not impressed by the arguments of delays for disposals because at least in this high court, the adoptions jurisdiction is one in which there is no backlog at all. Adjournments are almost never requested or ordered, and disposals take place on a weekly basis," the bench said.
It stayed effect of the letter written by the commissioner of Women and Child Development, Pune on September 30, 2022 to the Bombay HC Registrar for transfer of adoption matters to district magistrates.
The court also issued notice to the Attonery General of India seeking the Union government's response to the petitions and posted the matter for further hearing on February 14.
Until then, one single bench judge of the HC shall hear all such adoption cases, the court said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Several Gurugram schools receive hoax bomb threats
Gurugram (PTI): Several Gurugram schools received another hoax bomb threat emails on Wednesday morning, prompting police to launch searches on the premises.
Police said the email was sent by the 'Khalistan National Army', with threats issued to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to declare April 29 as the "40th Khalistan Declaration Day". It also threatened to bomb the Red Fort in Delhi.
Police said it was a hoax as no suspicious items were found after an intensive search.
Several schools, including Shri Ram, Amity, and the HDFC school, received threatening emails at 8.33 am, when classes had already begun, police said.
The school administrations became aware of the threats around 9 am and immediately informed the police, a senior police officer said.
The schools immediately implemented emergency protocols, with many declaring a holiday and asking parents to take their children home safely, the officer said.
A large number of anxious parents gathered outside the schools, as police and bomb squad teams reached the spots and started checks.
"Around 10 schools have approached the police from morning until now over bomb threats. Police teams are alert, and searches are underway on all the premises", the officer said.
As soon as the information about this email was received, police in Gurugram and Delhi swung into action and started investigation.
Schools immediately implemented emergency protocols upon receiving the mail. Many schools declared a holiday and sent messages to parents, asking them to take their children home. Large crowds of parents gathered outside the schools.
The schools were sanitised by sending a bomb disposal squad as well as a dog squad.
A senior police officer said that police teams thoroughly searched the school premises, classrooms, buildings, and surrounding areas. No suspicious objects or explosive materials were found during the investigation.
"Police teams are seriously investigating the entire matter. Cyber experts are being consulted to determine the authenticity of the email, its source, and the identity of the sender", added the officer.
This is the third time since January that schools have received fake bomb threats.
In March, at least a dozen schools in the city received bomb threat emails, which later turned out to be hoaxes.
Similarly, on January 28, as many as 13 schools received hoax bomb threats via email, forcing authorities to evacuate campuses and suspend classes.
Last month, police arrested a Bangladeshi national whose email ID was allegedly used to make a bomb threat for some payment.
