German national determined to find her biological mother

German national Maria Chaya Schupp (39), who was adopted by a German couple when she was six, remains determined to find her biological mother.

Her search began around 15 years ago but even a directive from the Division Bench of the High Court issued in March 2013 to the police to trace her parents has not helped.

Ms. Schupp was adopted from Nirmala Social Welfare Centre at Ullal, near Mangalore, in 1981. “The image of my mother waving 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 says.

Ms. Schupp says she has so far not secured 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 has been that of baptism done in July 1980. The Ullal police have not made any progress on her complaint filed in 2006 despite the High Court directive, she adds.

Ms. Schupp says she is yet to unravel the mystery behind orders issued by a District Court in Madurai, approving her adoption her by her foster parents Wolfgang Schupp and Ingrid 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 the District Court was yet to give her advocate the details sought following an application made on August 23.

Ms. Schupp’s advocate Dinesh Hegde Ullepady told

The Hindu that every child given in adoption has 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 with the Madurai court,” Mr. Ullepady said, adding that they would file a criminal case questioning the adoption.

A forum of citizens from Mangalore has been formed to support the case of Ms. Schupp. “We do not want other children to suffer like Ms. Schupp. We want the government to have a proper system of adoption,” says Uday Kumar, a businessman and a member of the Forum for Chaya’s Justice.