Undaunted by failures to trace her biological mother here, a 39-year-old woman, who was adopted by a German couple when she was six years old, continues her search with determination to unite herself with the mother who gave birth to her.
Maria Chaya Schupp’s search for the biological mother began around 15 years ago and several of her past visits yielded no fruit. Even a direction of the Division Bench of the High Court issued in March 2013 to the police to investigate her case and trace her parents has not helped her much.
Ms. Schupp was given in adoption from Nirmala Social Welfare Centre in Ullal to a German couple in 1981. “The image of my mother waving her hands while leaving me at the centre is still vivid in my mind. I have still not been able to trace her despite my repeated visits to India,” she said.
She told reporters here on Wednesday that she had so far not been able to secure the address of her biological mother from the Centre in Ullal. “They have turned me away stating that there are no records related to my mother.” The only record maintained by the Centre is that of baptism done in July 1980. The local Ullal police have not made any progress on her complaint filed in 2006 despite directions issued by the Karnataka High Court in 2013, she said.
She said she was yet to unravel the mystery behind the orders by a District Court in Madurai approving her adoption by her foster parents Ingrid and Wolfgang Schupp. “I do not know why a petition was filed in Madurai. I also do not know Selvan Raj Kennat, the petitioner (who filed the petition seeking guardianship of Maria Chaya Schupp and approval of adoption),” she said.
Ms. Schupp said the District Court was yet to give her advocate the details sought following an application made on August 23. Her Advocate Dinesh Hegde Ullepady told The Hindu that every child given in adoption had the right to know about her parents. Proper records about parents and the deed to relinquish the child should be part of the proceedings leading to grant of adoption. “I have not found these details in Madurai court,” Mr. Ullepady said, adding they would be filing a criminal case questioning this adoption.
A forum of citizens from Mangalore has been formed to support case of Ms. Schupp.
