The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has issued three critical Office Memorandums to all States and Union Territories to reinforce compliance with statutory adoption procedures and protect child identities. These directions, issued under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, mandate strict adherence to timelines before declaring a child legally free for adoption. The measures focus on the long-term safekeeping of records to support "root searches" by adult adoptees and prohibit the disclosure of children's identities on social media or other platforms. This initiative reflects growth in the government’s efforts to enhance transparency and accountability, ensuring that the adoption ecosystem is supported by robust legal and confidentiality safeguards.
Key Pillars of the CARA Adoption Directions
Statutory Compliance and Timelines: Mandating that no child be declared legally free for adoption without completing due inquiry, tracing of biological parents, and restoration efforts.
Mandatory Reconsideration Period: Ensuring the strict two-month reconsideration window for surrendered children is observed before finalizing legal status.
Preservation of Adoptee Records: Requiring State Agencies to securely preserve and transfer physical and digital records, even if a Child Care Institution (CCI) is closed or merged.
Facilitating "Root Search": Strengthening the maintenance of records to assist adult adoptees seeking information about their origins under the Adoption Regulations, 2022.
Identity Protection (Section 74): Strictly prohibiting the disclosure of photographs, videos, or identifying particulars of children in CCIs across any form of communication.
Confidentiality and Penalties: Advising States to sensitize staff on confidentiality requirements and initiate penal action under Section 74(3) for violations.
What is a "Root Search"? A root search is a process through which an adult adoptee seeks information regarding their biological origins and background. This right is provided under Regulation 47(2) of the Adoption Regulations, 2022. The recent CARA directions play a role in supporting this process by ensuring that Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAAs) do not destroy or discard records even after they cease operations. Maintaining these records is supported by the goal of protecting an adoptee’s right to identity, allowing them to reconnect with their history while maintaining the confidentiality of the biological parents as required by law.
Policy Relevance: Safeguarding the Rights and Dignity of Adoptees
Standardizing Legal Procedures: The emphasis on statutory timelines reflects growth in the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring adoptions are legally sound and centered on the child's right to a family.
Ensuring Institutional Accountability: Mandating the transfer of records during institutional closures plays a role in preventing the loss of vital personal history for future generations of adoptees.
Modernizing Child Protection: The ban on sharing child particulars on social media is supported by the need to protect vulnerable children from privacy breaches and potential exploitation.
Digital Transparency: Integrating digital record preservation into the adoption framework contributes to the "Digital India" vision while maintaining the high confidentiality standards required by the Juvenile Justice Act.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: What specific auditing mechanisms will be used to track whether Child Care Institutions are strictly adhering to the identity protection guidelines on social media?
Follow the Full Release Here: CARA issues nationwide directions to strengthen adoption procedures
