Bombay High Court (Ordinary Original Civil Jurisdiction), Farhan P. Dubash J., 25.02.2026 — Indian Adoption Petition No. 91 of 2025 filed by Vatsalya Trust, Mumbai (through Authorised Signatory/Convener Mrs. Anupama Dhuri) with the prospective adoptive parents ('PAPs') Mr. Ashish Kailashchandra Ujawane (aged 53) and Mrs. Poonam Ashish Ujawane, residents of Nagpur married about 20 years with no biological child, sought adoption of the male minor Anvay (b. 02.08.2024). The minor was surrendered by his biological mother before the Child Welfare Committee, Mumbai Suburban-I on 13.08.2024 and placed the same day in the safe custody of Vatsalya Trust under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015; the Child Welfare Committee, Mankhurd declared him 'Legally Free for Adoption' on 15.10.2024. The record included marriage certificate, residence and financial documents, medical reports with negative HIV results for the PAPs and the minor, motivation letter, Declaration of Consent, pre-adoption foster care undertaking, a Child Security Undertaking by the adoptive mother's brother and sister-in-law, the Petitioner's recognition valid up to 31.03.2026 (extension order dt. 05.12.2025), and the Home Study Report of SAA Varadaan Indian Association for Promotion of Adoption and Child Welfare, Nagpur finding the PAPs emotionally stable and suitable. The Scrutiny Officer's (Mr. O. Hareendran, ICSW) Report/Representation dated 17.02.2026 was taken on record and marked 'X'. Relying on the Division Bench's interim order of 10.01.2023 in Nisha Pradeep Pandya and Anr v. Union of India, 2023 SCC OnLine Bom 90 — passed in the pending challenge to the JJ (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act, 2021 — directing that adoption matters continue to be adjudicated by the assigned Single Judges, the Court held it could consider and dispose of the petition. Finding adoption by the PAPs to be in the minor's interest, the petition was allowed in terms of prayer clauses (a) to (f): the PAPs were declared Adoptive Parents with all parental rights, privileges and responsibilities; renaming of the minor as 'Harshit Ashish Ujawane'; direction to the Municipal/Birth Certificate issuing Authority to issue the Birth Certificate accordingly; leave to remove the minor from the Court's jurisdiction; the Petitioner to obtain and file the PAPs' undertaking not to give the minor for further adoption without prior leave; disposed of with no order as to costs.
