The involvement of two police officials in an adoption case which surfaced recently has proved yet again the blatant violation of legal guidelines on adoption in Puducherry.
A pregnant minor girl from Solai Nagar last year complained of being cheated by a man, Manivanan, who had promised to marry her. A case was then registered under Section 417/376, IPC at the Puducherry All Women Police Station.
A constable of the Puducherry Armed Police, Nirmala, was posted at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Women and Children Hospital during the minor girl’s delivery. The constable and her sister, Sub-Inspector Santhi, convinced the minor girl to give the baby up for adoption for their other sister promising the girl Rs. 1 lakh, a job and assistance for marriage. The baby was born in November 2013.
The police officials paid the girl Rs. 50,000 at the time of discharge from the hospital and later threatened the girl when she asked for the remaining amount or tried to contact them to see the baby. The girl and her family also found the address given by the police officials fake.
A relative then made a complaint with Childline, which is when details of the case became clear.
Vidyaa Ramkumar, chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, Puducherry, took up the case with Inspector General of Police Praveer Ranjan. On the direction of Mr. Ranjan, the police are now investigating the case.
Ms. Santhi and Ms. Nirmala even managed to get a legal document which shows the minor girl’s consent for adoption. The document is not valid as the signatory is minor, Ms. Ramkumar said, adding that all adoption cases can be administered only by the CWC.
Report to CWC “Any case involving a minor should first be reported by the police to the CWC. The first time the girl approached the police with the complaint about being cheated by Mr. Manivanan should have been reported to the CWC,” said Ms. Ramkumar.
An enquiry is being conducted by Superintendent of Police Thamizharsi into the conduct of Ms. Santhi and Ms. Nirmala. The minor girl has now appealed for the baby to be returned to her while the family which adopted the baby says it cannot give the baby up. On Monday, the minor girl and baby will be produced before the CWC.
