The Telangana High Court has directed government authorities to return a four month old girl to a couple who had been caring for her, after the baby was rescued from a fake surrogacy racket. The child is currently under government care at Shishu Vihar.
The case involves Universal Srushti Fertility Centre, owned by Dr. Namratha, which allegedly facilitated the handover of the child through a fraudulent surrogacy arrangement. A DNA test later revealed that the baby is not biologically related to the couple.
Despite the lack of a biological link, the court acknowledged that the couple had developed a strong emotional bond, had cared for the child since birth, and that the government issued birth certificate lists them as the parents.
Justice T. Madhavi Devi instructed the Women and Child Welfare Department, the police, and other involved authorities to respond to the case. She made clear that the order to return the child should not become a legal precedent for similar cases.
The couple, residents of Puppalaguda working in the IT sector, had paid over Rs. 10 lakh for the surrogacy treatment. When the scam was uncovered, they took custody proceedings in court after authorities intervened.
The court has also ordered that the child’s welfare be closely monitored once she is handed back to the couple.
