38.6c New Delhi, India, Sunday, August 03, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Adopted Son Entitled To Take Adoptive Mothers Caste If Biological Fathers Records Not Available: Bombay High Court

By Nimisha Dublish      22 March, 2022 02:02 AM      0 Comments
Adopted Son Entitled To Take Adoptive Mother Caste

A division bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and GA Sanap of the Bombay High Court observed that an adopted child also has the right to have an identity of adoptive mother, despite the caste authorities insistence on making the childs biological fathers records available. 

Observing that an adopted child becomes a family member of his adoptive parents in all respects, the Bombay High Court directed authorities to issue a caste certificate to an 18 year- old based on his mothers scheduled caste identity.

The Bench cited section 12 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 which states that from the date of adoption of the child all the ties from his biological family get dissolved and gets replaced by the ties with the adoptive family. 

Brief Facts: 

On refusal of caste certificate to child by Collector in 2016 saying that fathers caste documents were not submitted, a single mother challenged order at the District Caste Certificate Security Committee which confirmed the previous order by the collector. 

On appeal to Court, the mother argued in the court that her child has been using the caste as Hindu Mahyavanshi which is a schedule caste in all his school documents. She cited the case of Rameshbhau Dabhai Naika v. Satat of Gujarat, where the Supreme Court held that adoptive child is entitled to take caste of his mother. On the other hand, the AGP argued that it is a mandate under the law for issuance of caste certificate to produce documents of the father, and therefore the claim was rejected in accordance with the law. 

The court relied on Section 12 of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 and also on  Rameshbhai Dabhai Naika V. State of Gujrat and for the welfare of the adopted child by a single mother, held that there is no requirement of biological fathers documents to apply for caste certificate. Thus, Court held that "Considering the fact that the male child was brought up in the Orphanage, it was not a legal requirement and, therefore, application of the petitioner for seeking permission to adopt the child was granted." 



Share this article:



Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS


TOP STORIES

sc-questions-justice-varma-over-failure-to-challenge-validity-of-in-house-inquiry-panel
Trending Judiciary
SC questions Justice Varma over failure to challenge validity of in-house inquiry panel

SC questions Justice Varma for not challenging in-house probe panel earlier despite cash haul case; asks why he joined inquiry if he found it flawed.

28 July, 2025 02:27 PM
timelines-for-governor-prez-to-clear-bills-kerala-asks-sc-to-return-presidential-reference-unanswered
Trending Executive
Timelines for Governor, Prez to clear Bills: Kerala asks SC to return presidential reference "unanswered"

Kerala urges SC to return Presidential reference on bill clearance timelines as “unmaintainable”, citing suppression of facts and settled SC rulings under Article 200.

28 July, 2025 02:38 PM
sc-refuses-to-stay-publication-of-draft-voters-list-in-bihar-on-aug-1
Trending Judiciary
SC refuses to stay publication of draft voters list in Bihar on Aug 1

SC declines stay on Bihar draft voter list; asks EC to consider Aadhaar, Voter ID for inclusion ahead of Assembly polls on August 1.

28 July, 2025 04:10 PM
why-so-many-students-dying-by-suicides-sc-asks-iit-kharagpur
Trending Judiciary
Why so many students dying by suicides, SC asks IIT Kharagpur

SC asks IIT Kharagpur why students are dying by suicide; raises concern amid rising campus deaths despite new mental health guidelines.

29 July, 2025 11:51 AM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email