Rajeev Shekar Chand Sharma v. Zahra Rajeev Sharma (Adoptee)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

Digitally signed by AMOL PREMNATH JADHAV Date:

2026.04.09 16:07:11 +0530 ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION AMOL PREMNATH JADHAV AND IN ITS GENERAL AND INHERENT JURISDICTION INDIAN ADOPTION PETITION NO. 17 OF 2026

1. Rajeev Shekhar Chand Sharma aged 50 years and

2. Reshma Rajeev Sharma aged 49 years, both Indian Nationals, residing at B-602, Runwal Heights, Opp. Nirmal Lifestyle, LBS Marg, Mulund (West), Mumbai - 400 080 ... Petitioners _____________________________________________ Mr. Rakesh K.L. Kapoor for the Petitioners.

Mr. O. Hareendran, Scrutiny Officer - ICSW present. Mr. Rajeev Shekhar Chand Sharma - Adoptive Father present. Mrs. Reshma Rajeev Sharma - Adoptive Mother present. Ms. Zahra Rajeev Sharma - Adoptive daughter present in Chamber Mr. Dilip S. Gurav - Chamber Registrar present. ___________________________________________ CORAM : FARHAN P. DUBASH, J.

DATE : 25th MARCH 2026 ORDER:

1.

By this Indian Adoption Petition, the Petitioners are seeking adoption of the female Zahra Rajeev Sharma (Adoptee) born on 12th July 2007. The Petitioners had filed Indian Guardianship Petition No. 68 of 2008 to declare

themselves as Guardians of the Adoptee pursuant to Children of the World India Trust, Mumbai proposing the Adoptee in Guardianship to the Petitioners. The Guardianship Petition was allowed by this Court vide order dated 3rd November 2004 and the said order is placed on record. 2.

The present Adoption Petition has been filed by the Petitioners pursuant to the judgment dated 27th October 1999 passed by this Court in the matter of the appointment of guardian of person of a female minor Doreen Theresa D'Souza1.

3.

The Petitioners are Indian Nationals residing at Mulund, Mumbai and are both aged 50 and 49 years respectively. They have been married for the past 27 years, and have no biological children. Their Marriage Certificate has been placed on record. In addition to the Petitioners' PAN and Aadhaar Cards, supportive financial documents, proof of residence and proof of investment in the name of the Adoptee are also placed on record. 4.

The Medical Fitness Certificates dated 11th January 2026 of both the Petitioners is placed on record and it states that they are both in good physical and mental health and are free from any contagious, infectious or chronic disease.

1 1999 SCC OnLine Bom 690

5.

Petitioner No. 1 is self-employed as a consultant and his income for Assessment Year 2025-26 is stated to be Rs. 2,68,69,185/-. Petitioner No. 2 is a self-employed entrepreneur and is the Founder of a branding and marketing agency and her income for the Assessment Year 2025-26 is stated to be Rs. 21,24,598/-.

6.

The Home Study Report dated 11th February 2026 conducted by the authorities of Children of the World India Trust, Mumbai states that the Petitioners have consistently fulfilled their parental role towards the Adoptee, and that they are mentally and physically fit, financially secure and are motivated to continue providing a stable, loving and wholesome family environment for the Adoptee.

7.

The Follow-up Report of the Adoptee dated 09th February 2026 is also placed on record and it states that the Adoptee is maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle and she shares a warm and affectionate relationship with her parents as well as her elder sister.

8.

The Adoptee's latest photograph, Aadhaar and PAN Card copies and her consent to the adoption are all on record. The Medical Certificate dated 03rd February 2026 of the Adoptee states that she is in good physical and mental health and is free from any contagious infectious or chronic disease..

9.

Mr. O. Hareendran, Scrutiny Officer, has tendered the Representation / Report of the Indian Council of Social Welfare, which is taken on record and marked "X" for identification.

10.

The Adoptee along with the Petitioners were present for today's hearing. From my interaction with them, it appears that the Adoptee is well adjusted and shares a close and affectionate bond with the Petitioners. The material on record, including the Home Study Report and Follow-up Report, indicates that the Adoptee is well integrated into the adoptive family. 11.

In these circumstances, the following order is passed : ::ORDER::

(i) The Indian Adoption Petition is allowed in terms of prayer clauses (a) to (c) of the Petition, which read as under:- " (a) That this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to declare the Petitioners as Adoptive Parents of the said female Zahra Rajeev Sharma, under the guardianship of the Petitioners.

(b) That this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to condone the delay in filing the present Petition.

(c) That the concerned Municipal Authority/Birth Certificate issuing Authority may be directed to issue Birth Certificate in the name of the said female Zahra Rajeev Sharma, born on 12/07/2004 and stating that thereon that the Petitioners as the parents of the said female Nooreen Shafic Syed."

(ii) The present Indian Adoption Petition is accordingly disposed of. (iii) There shall be no order as to costs.

(FARHAN P. DUBASH, J.) Shubham Gadhavepatil