Home  /  Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015  /  Section 66

Section 66: Adoption of children residing in institutions not registered as adoption agencies

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 2015
Section 65 All 112 Sections of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 Section 67

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 66

Section 66 of the Act provides for the adoption of children residing in child care institutions not registered as adoption agencies, establishing a statutory mechanism to link general Children's Homes with Specialised Adoption Agencies to ensure every adoptable child finds a family.

  • Mandatory Linking with Specialised Adoption Agencies: Obligates all general Children's Homes and shelter institutions to partner with the nearest SAA to facilitate adoption of resident orphaned children.
  • Statutory Time-Bound Screening: Requires the linked SAA to screen resident children, prepare Child Study Reports, and obtain CWC declarations within thirty days of admission.
  • Prevention of Institutional Warehousing: Prevents institutions from retaining adoptable children indefinitely for fundraising, ensuring transition into permanent family care.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • In Re: Exploitation of Children in Orphanages (2017) 7 SCC 578: Supreme Court condemned the practice of orphanages hoarding children to claim foreign donations, directing mandatory linking under Section 66 to place children in families.
  • Sampurna Behura v. Union of India (2018) 4 SCC 433: Supreme Court mandated that all child care institutions must actively identify adoptable children and link with SAAs under Section 66.
  • Shabnam Hashmi v. Union of India (2014) 4 SCC 1: Affirmed that every child has a right to grow up in a family environment.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) must inspect general Children's Homes quarterly: if an institution houses orphaned children without linking them to an SAA under Section 66, initiate immediate license suspension proceedings.

Section 65 All 112 Sections of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 Section 67