REPORT: INDIA MAY BAN GAY ADOPTION

In the wake of India’s re-criminalisation of homosexuality last year, it’s been reported that the country may introduce legislation banning adoption by gay and lesbian couples.

According to Live Mint, the country’s federal Cabinet made a decision to “stop same-sex couples from adopting children” on Wednesday.

It said that a government official confirmed the decision, which was made while the Cabinet was considering a bill amending the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.

The draft bill, however, does not currently bar gay adoption. It is unclear if the Cabinet has now included the new provision in the proposed legislation. This will only be known when the bill is introduced in Parliament.

Same-sex relationships are not currently recognised in India and therefore same-sex couples are already not allowed to jointly adopt. Single people older than 30 can apply to adopt children.

The country’s Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) also does not allow same-sex foreign couples to adopt Indian children.

In December last year, India’s Supreme Court restored a previous colonial-era ban on gay sex which had been overturned in 2009 by the Delhi High Court.

The ruling shocked human rights groups around the world and was met with widespread condemnation both in India and internationally.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition arguing for the reversal of its ruling.