Cabinet relaxes adoption norms

The cabinet has approved the Hindu Adoption and Marriage (Amendment) Bill, which will give women who are separated from their husbands the right to adopt a child.

The cabinet on Wednesday approved the Hindu Adoption and Marriage (Amendment) Bill, which will give women who are separated from their husbands the right to adopt a child.

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“Till now, only a divorced woman had the right to adopt a child. But after this bill is passed, women who are
separated and not divorced can also adopt a child,” a cabinet minister said after its approval.

The amendment is aimed at giving equal rights to women.

The bill will now be moved by the women and child development ministry to the law ministry for vetting, after which it will be tabled in Parliament for discussion.

The Central Adoption Resource Agency of the women and child development ministry, along with several NGOs and other organisations, had been mulling this change in the law for some time.