VOLETI VENKATARAMA RAO vs KESAPRAGADA BHASKARA RAO & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that in cases of adoption under Hindu law, particularly where there is a significant lapse of time before the adoption is challenged, the burden of proof lies heavily on the challenger. The Court established that a strong presumption of validity arises in favor of the adoption, especially when the adoptive mother was recognized as having adopted the child and evidence supporting the challenge is lacking. The appeal was dismissed, affirming the lower courts' findings that the adoption was valid despite the appellant's claims regarding the adoptive mother's age at the time of adoption.