Delhi High Court Orders CARA to Issue NOC for 4-Year-Delayed Inter-Country Adoption

The Delhi High Court directed CARA (Central Adoption Resource Agency) to issue a No Objection Certificate within four weeks in a pending case of inter-country adoption case that’s been delayed for over four years. 

The child's adoptive parents, Australian citizens, executed the Adoption Deed in 2020 under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA). CARA resisted approval, citing missing Hague Convention documents and disputing the validity of their grandmother’s General Power of Attorney under Queensland law.

The Court held that finalised HAMA adoptions are not subject to additional requirements and noted no objection from Australian authorities .

Relying on precedent, including Prema Gopal and Narinderjit Kaur, the Court ordered CARA to process the NOC based on existing District Magistrate certificates .