OM PRAKASH Vs. CHILD WELFARE BOARD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal from the order of the District Judge dated August II, 1976, under section 47 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890.

(2.) The real question in this appeal is about the custody of a male child called Rajesh. He is today 13 years of age. He was a "neglected child". He had no home. There was no one to look after him. The Child Welfare Board, a body constituted under the Children Act, 160 (the Act) took the child into their care and custody. On August 22, 1966, the Board gave the child to one Manak Lal Vohra and his wife Chandra Kanta for keeping him in their foster care. They had no male child. Rajesh was then 13 days old. Manak Lal and his wife brought upp the child with parental care. He became the centre of their leve and affection. He remained in their custody till 1975.

(3.) Manak Lal died on February 22, 1972. After his death, his wife Chandra Kanta took care of the child. On August 18, 1975 she died. On October 15, 1975, the Chairman of the Board made an order for taking back the child into their custody. Since then the child is with the Board. They have placed the child in an institution known as SOS (Save Our Souls). SOS is a children's home. It is a social service agency. They arc keeping children in a village near Green Fields in Faridabad. They have. erected huts. Sisters of the mission are in charge of the children. The children arc well looked after by the sister. They are being educated.