[2018] KEHC 9313 (KLR)
The court found that the adoption order issued by the District Court of Amritsar, Punjab, India, on 5th October 2015, was valid and that the applicants had complied with the requirements of Section 176 of the Children’s Act. The court held that adoption orders from Commonwealth countries, such as India, are to be...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEHC 9313 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: A K M; Applicant: P R S
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Adoption Cause 42 of 2018
- Procedural Posture
- Adoption Cause / Judgment
- Outcome
- application allowed
- Legal Topics
- International Adoption, Recognition of Foreign Orders, Registration of Adoption, Children Rights
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
A K M
Applicant
P R S
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Adoption Cause / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether an adoption order issued by a foreign court (District Court of Amritsar, Punjab, India) can be recognized and registered in Kenya under the Children’s Act.
- 2 Whether the applicants have met the statutory requirements for recognition and registration of the foreign adoption order.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the adoption order issued by the District Court of Amritsar, Punjab, India, on 5th October 2015, was valid and that the applicants had complied with the requirements of Section 176 of the Children’s Act. The court held that adoption orders from Commonwealth countries, such as India, are to be recognized in Kenya if made by a competent court and if the applicants meet the statutory criteria. The court was satisfied with the authenticity of the adoption deed and the applicants' compliance with the law, and therefore allowed the application, ordering that the foreign adoption order be recognized and registered in Kenya.
Court Disposition
application allowed
Orders
- The adoption order issued on 5th October 2015 by the District Court of Amritsar, Punjab, India is adopted as an order of this court.
- The adoption deed is to be registered and entered in the register of adopted children by the Registrar General.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
25 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT NAIROBI
FAMILY DIVISION
ADOPTION CAUSE NO. 42 OF 2018
IN THE MATTER OF THE CHILDREN’S ACT NO. 8 OF 2001
AND
IN THE ADOPTION OF J S (MINOR)
A K M ...............................1ST APPLICANT
P R S................................2ND APPLICANT
JUDGMENT
1. Vide exparte application dated 26th March 2018 but filed on 27th March 2018 pursuant to Sections 176 and 165 of the Children’s Act and Section 9 of the Civil Procedure Act Cap 21 Laws of Kenya, the applicants herein sought adoption order issued on 5th October 2015 by way of a deed of Adoption by the District Court, Amritsar, Punjab India be adopted and be made an order of this honourable court and that the same be registered and entered in the adoption register.
2. Application is premised on the grounds set out on the face of it and a supporting affidavit jointly sworn by the applicants on 26th March 2018. The applicants herein who are Kenyan citizens celebrated their marriage in Kenya on 26th July 2008 in accordance with the Hindu Marriage and Divorce Act Cap 157 now repealed. The couple is however not blessed with any biological child hence opted to adopt a baby which they did in India on 5th October 2015 at the court of Amritsar (See Marriage certificate marked AKKM-3).
3. That the adoption deed was registered on 5th October 2015 and sincethen, the baby has been living with the applicants in Kenya under a dependency pass. They therefore prayed that the adoption be recognized as well as the adopted baby and the said adoption order be registered and entered in the adopted children’s register.
4. I have considered the application herein, materials placed before me interalia adoption deed from an Indian court. Pursuant to Section 176 of the Children’s Act, an adoption order made in any part of the common wealth countries to which this section applies, the same shall have effect just like an adoption made under this Act in Kenya. For avoidance of doubt, I would like to reproduce Section 176 which provides as follows:
Sub Section (1) - where a person has been adopted (whether before or after commencement of this Act) in any place and the adoption is one to which this section applies, then, for the purposes of this Act and all other written laws, the adoption shall have the same effect as an adoption order validly made under this Act, and shall have no other effect.
Sub Section 2 – Sub section (1) shall apply to an adoption on any place outside Kenya, if –
(a) The adoption order was made by any court of competent jurisdiction in any other country.
5. I have carefully looked at the adoption deed herein annexed and marked as annexure AKKM4. I have no reason to doubt that the same was issued on 5th October 2015. I have no doubt as to the existence of the said deed. In accordance with Section 176 (1) (2) of the Children’s Act I am of the opinion that the application is merited and same is allowed with orders that:
(a) The adoption order issued on 5th October 2015 by the District Court of Amritsar, Punjab, India be and is hereby adopted as an order of this court.
(b) That the adoption deed referred to herein be registered and entered in the register of the adopted children by the Registrar General.
DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED IN OPEN COURT AT NAIROBI THIS 12TH DAY OF JULY, 2018.
J.N. ONYIEGO (JUDGE)
In the presence of:
Banji holding brief for Mrs. Rono………..Counsel for the applicant
Edwin…..…………………………………….…….Court Assistant