Months to claim own child from orphanage

The biological parents of a newborn girl spent a harrowing time for over six months after being separated from their baby who remained in an orphanage all this while.

The parents knew their child was in the orphanage, but the authorities insisted they need to establish their claim as parents of the baby girl. The resulting logjam kept the baby away from the mother for months.

Finally, a DNA test was conducted which proved the credentials of the couple as parents of the baby girl Suman (name changed). Suman, however, is with her Delhi-based parents now. The mother of the baby, too, shares the blame for the mess.

Suman was born in Amritsar in October last year which is when the woman’s mother-in-law reportedly launched a tirade for giving birth to another baby girl. Unable to face the abuse, the mother decided to abandon her baby. She went to an orphanage in Amritsar, left her baby in a cradle outside and walked away.

On her return home, she narrated the entire incident to her husband in New Delhi, who quickly packed his bags and headed for Amritsar.

An argument ensued, followed by a sense of deep remorse. The next day the couple went straight to the orphanage to claim their baby.

They expressed regret saying the decision was taken in haste. But the authorities asked them to prove their identity as parents of the baby girl, without which they would be unable to hand over the child.

Since no one saw the mother leaving the child in the cradle, the authorities cited legal complexities that went against handing over the baby.

They were right in their own way, but little did the couple realise that one hasty decision would lead to a long period of separation from their child.

Midway through their pursuit to reclaim their child, Suman fell ill and was shifted to a hospital in Ludhiana where a charitable trust spent Rs 2.6 lakh on her treatment. Finally, a DNA test established that the couple were parents of Suman, who is now out of the orphanage.