Uma Maheshwari v. The Joint Director

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 04.06.2026

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY Uma Maheshwari ... Petitioner -vs1.The Joint Director, Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), West Block 8, Wing 2, 1st Floor, Rama Krishna Puram, New Delhi.

2.The District Collector, First Floor, Collectorate, Thiruvarur District.

3.Child Welfare Committee, 4.The Protection Officer, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), ... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the fourth respondent to consider and process the request for foster adoption in accordance with

Chapter III, Rule 18(3), 18(4), 19, 20, 21 and 22 of the Model Foster Care Guidelines, 2024, issued by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India and in consequent to that facilitate the issuance of Birth Certificates and Aadhar Cards in the name of the children to enable their continued education and to avail of other welfare entitlements from the Government based on petitioner representation dated 19.09.2025, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.P.P.Alwin Balan For R1 : Mr.K.Govindarajan Deputy Solicitor General of India For R2 to R4 : Mr.R.Parthiban Counsel for the Government of Tamil Nadu

ORDER

The Writ Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the fourth respondent to consider and process the petitioner's request for foster care placement in accordance with Chapter III of the Model Foster Care Guidelines, 2024, issued by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, and consequently, facilitate the issuance of Birth Certificates and Aadhaar Cards in the names of the children so as to enable them to continue their education and avail themselves of various welfare benefits of the Government, based on the petitioner's representation dated 19.09.2025.

2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the fourth respondent, being the competent authority in this regard, had not taken any steps on the petitioner's request, necessitating the filing of the present Writ Petition.

3. It is seen that, after the Writ Petition was entertained, a status report was filed on behalf of the fourth respondent. It was stated therein that the foster parents are required to register themselves in terms of Rule 15 of the Model Foster Care Guidelines, 2024, and that such registration is to be completed through an online application process. In the said circumstances, the fourth respondent was also required to assist the petitioner in completing the online registration process.

4. Pursuant thereto, the learned counsel appearing for the respondents 2 to 4 submitted that, with the assistance of the fourth respondent, the requisite documents have been uploaded on the online portal and that the application is presently pending approval by the fourth respondent, who is processing the matter in accordance with law.

5. In view of the above, the fourth respondent is directed to process the application and take further steps in the manner known to law as expeditiously as possible and, in any event, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a web copy of this order, without insisting upon production of a certified copy thereof.

6. The Writ Petition stands disposed of accordingly. No costs. 04.06.2026 NCC : No smn2 To:- 1.The Joint Director, Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), West Block 8, Wing 2, 1st Floor, Rama Krishna Puram, New Delhi.

2.The District Collector, First Floor, Collectorate, Thiruvarur District.

3.Child Welfare Committee,

4.The Protection Officer, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU),

D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY , J.

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