Uneducated, poor couple of Belthangady cheated by ’fraud’ adoption ?

Mangalore Today News Network

Uppinangady, July 10, 2015:  According to reports,  an uneducated and poor couple of  Belthangady  were cheated by a couple by ’fraud’ adoption of their biological daughter. The couple of the girl have approached CWC.

It is said that one Jacintha Fernandes, was befriended by an issueless couple and persuaded her and her husband that they would provide scholarship and give education to their daughter, if she resided with them.  The childless couple has been keeping the girl under their roof.  The  now 12-year-old girl has been staying with the family since she was seven years old. The couple - Prem Kumar and Margaret, residents of Kakkinje near Chibidre in Belthangady taluk, have reportedly adopted the girl child.

But the parents of the girl child want her to be legally their daughter. Biological parents of the girl are Jacintha Fernandes and Cashmir Fernandes, residents of Bannengala in Belthangady taluk, now claim that the adoption was illegal as they did not give consent for ’adoption’  though they were asked to give some papers for ’scholarship’ for the girl.

Jacintha and Cashmir had three daughters and a son. The said girl was their third child. Prem Kumar and Margaret had a prayer centre.   The couple were visiting the prayer centre for the last five years and were reportedly lured by Kumar and Margaret on the pretext of taking care of their daughter and educating her.

In a complaint to the CWC, the couple said that in the pretext of obtaining scholarship for their daughter, they had asked them to sign a few papers. Now, the childless couple are refusing to send back their daughter. They are not even allowing the couple to be in touch with their daughter.

Following the complaint, the CWC held seven sittings to hear the arguments of accused and the complainants.

As per the couple who have adopted the child, they had adopted the child and have registered before the Belthangady sub registrar.   However, the CWC noted that the adoption should have been carried out as per JJ Act 2000. As a result, the adoption letter is not valid now.

During the CWC investigation, it was found that the foster parents have changed the name of the biological parents based on the adoption letter, in the birth certificate. The foster parents have also changed the name of the child. The girl is presently studying in seventh standard at a school in Periyadka.

Meanwhile, amidst all the allegations and counter allegations, the child has refused to go with her biological parents, in front of the CWC.  She had told the CWC that she has been residing with Prem Kumar and Margaret D’Souza and they are looking after her well. She has refused to be part with her biological parents Jacintha Fernandes and Cashmir Fernandes.

But,  Jacintha refuses to believe that her daughter would ever say it and is of the opinion that the couple would have threatened her. Her statement before the CWC would have been due to pressure. The CWC has claimed that the adoption letter is invalid. The couple is not allowing the real parents to talk to the girl.