Stephanie Joan Becker vs State & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the rejection of applications under Sections 7 and 26 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, for appointing a single prospective adoptive parent as guardian and for permission to adopt a child. The Court held that the age limit of 45 years for single adoptive parents, as per Government of India Guidelines, was not rigidly applicable in this case due to a no objection certificate from the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). The Court emphasized the need for a careful examination of the reasons for any relaxation of guidelines in adoption cases, particularly in the context of inter-country adoption principles established in Lakshmi Kant Pandey v. Union of India.