HC orders report on child custody in illegal adoption case

Hyderabad: The Telangana high court, on Tuesday, directed the District Legal Services Authorities of Nalgonda and Suryapet to submit, within two weeks, a comprehensive report on the procedures followed in the protective custody of a three-year-old child rescued from an illegal adoption racket.The child was rescued by Suryapet district police in May 2025 and was lodged at Shishugruha in Nalgonda district along with 10 other children who were also allegedly illegally adopted.So far, around 15 people allegedly part of a child trafficking racket that sold the children to childless couples have been arrested in the case. The adoptive couples who procured children through this racket have also been named as accused.The division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the social investigation report related to the child was conducted.

The bench also directed the authorities to furnish details of other children lodged in the care home.The bench issued the directions while hearing an appeal filed by a couple from Suryapet, who had allegedly adopted the three-year-old illegally. Their request to hand over the child’s custody was earlier denied by a single judge, which they challenged before the division bench.As proper details related to the appeal were not provided and court queries remained unanswered during the hearing on June 22, the bench directed the officer concerned to appear before the court on June 23 and explain the details.

Accordingly, Nalgonda District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) K Ganesh appeared before the court on Tuesday and produced relevant records and details related to the child in their custody.After hearing him and the counsel for the govt, the bench remarked that they did not provide “a satisfactory reply (to the court’s queries)”.The bench pointed out that the remarks column indicated that a social investigation report (SIR) (for the child in question) was completed on June 13, 2025, but the register did not have the date of when the instructions were issued to the social worker for conducting the investigation.Further, the SIR submitted to the court did not contain a (report) preparation date, despite it being the crucial document upon which the Child Welfare Committee must base its rehabilitation decisions (with respect to the child's custody)“In light of these administrative gaps, the District Legal Services Authorities of both districts are directed to verify if the (safe custody) measures contemplated under the Juvenile Justice Act are being scrupulously followed,” said the bench.Further, the mandated report, to be submitted through the Telangana Legal Services Authority (TLSA), must also include status of other children currently held under CWC orders at the Shishugruha in Nalgonda and clarify whether any such registered homes are functional in Suryapet district, noted the bench. Directing the officer to appear on further hearing, the bench adjourned the matter to July 8.