German's search for biological mother hints at abuse of adoption law


Shreyas SH
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangalore

Mangalore, Oct 2: German national Maria Chaya Schupp's search for her biological mother in India, the country from where she was adopted by a German couple back in the year 1981, has thrown light on the trend of dodging the law in cases of adoption domestically and internationally.

For Maria, however, when she learnt from her foster mother that she was an abandoned street kid from India, the fact upset her, as she strongly believed in her obscure memory that she was handed over by her biological mother to Nirmala Social Welfare (NSWC), Ullal, when she was aged around 4 in between 1979 and 1980.





The German foster mother Ingrid Schupp adopted her through a pro-infant adoption agency of Germany. The agency, according to Maria, facing a ban in the country currently, had then consulted NSWC to facilitate Maria's adoption by Ingrid.

“After I attained maturity, I along with my adoptive mother, visited the NSWC and found no record of adoption at the centre,” Maria said.

Maria alleged that the centre then failed to comply with the adoption laws and indulged in illegal adoption for money. Maria further added that the centre has her name in the baptism book.

The lady then came to India with the sole intention of searching for the mother, but the situation she encountered led her to fight for the cause of thwarting illegal adoption prevailing domestically and internationally and to preserve human rights. "There could be more cases like me as adoption for many centres has become a profit making business," she claimed.

Currently, a group from Mangalore has made up its mind to support her fight. The group has formed a forum named Justice for Maria Chaya to impart awareness, while simultaneously launching a comprehensive investigation on such cases.

Maria’s adoption was illegal due to the handling of the adoption done by Madurai district court. “Since the girl made her brief stay in an adoption centre, NSWC in Ullal, Mangalore, as per the then Guardians and Wards Act 1890, the centre should have been adhered to the law and consulted the district court of Mangalore rather than the Madurai court," said advocate Dinesh Hegde Ulepady, who is currently Maria’s advocate.

However, in 2006, after Maria failed to procure documents of her biological mother from NSWC centre, she moved the high court of Karnataka. The HC directed the Ullal police to investigate the matter, for which it presented that documents were damaged due to heavy rains. The court transferred the case to the lower court, JMFC III, to resolve the issue.

The advocate contended that before 1983, adoption institutions functioning across the nation were blatantly ignoring the regulatory bodies Indian Council of Social Welfare and Council of Child Welfare. After Supreme Court’s direction to the government of India in one of the petitions filed in the SC in connection of violating the norms in 1983, gradually reform kick-started, Ulepady said.

Maria's adoption case was tried in the district court of Madurai, with a lady named Selvam Raj Kennet filing a petition for adoption in 1980. “I have no idea who that Selvam Raj is,” Maria said. Meanwhile she argued she had no memory of being taken to Madurai.

“My adoptive mother paid 5,000 Deutsche Mark in 1980, (RS 39,800 according Indian value in 1980) for adopting me.” She alleged that Selvam and NSWC centre had shared the money to send her out from India. “I want to send Selvam and sisters of NSWC to jail,” she hit out.

After a group of people under the banner of Justice for Maria Chaya took up the issue, two such cases were reported to the forum. Ulepady, who guides the venture of Justice for Maria Chaya alleged that a few institutions domestically and internationally are abusing adoption law and only piling up money and degrading human rights.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • felcy, mangalore

    Sat, Oct 04 2014

    Right now may our prayer be like Jesus who suffered innocently,"Father forgive them,they do not know what they are doing."We support and pray for the sisters who do lot of service...that they may continue His mission without getting discouraged....Remembering that no one can touch their soul...........

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Harshi. , Hassan

    Fri, Oct 03 2014

    It's heart breaking to read Chaya wants to send the the sisters to the jail. Is it the good that she pays to those who have helped her? Please count the blessings that you have received.

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Risha , M'lore

    Fri, Oct 03 2014

    Dear Chaya As a mark of gratitude to God and to all those who have given you the opportunity to live offer a rose not the thorn. A word of cheer not the words to tear the heart, bring a smile for they have given all this. Why then do u waste your precious time, energy and everything these also the gift of God Himself. Today so many houses have become the home of love, so many lives are brightened, so many tears are wiped, so many lives are saved by the generous service of Sisters of Charity in the entire world itself by their service in the orphanages, schools, hospitals, in the social field etc.

    DisAgree Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavia , M'lore

    Fri, Oct 03 2014

    For Chaya, It's time to be grateful to God Almighty for the chance that He has given to live till to this day. As we the creatures are to count the Blessing that we receive everyday.And live a happy life and let others live too. Let's also know that thousands of orphans have found a home of love through the kind service of Sisters of Charity at Ullal and even today the service countinous in the name of Christ who is present today in the most needy of the society.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • yogesh, bombay

    Fri, Oct 03 2014

    Much ado abt nothing worthwhile. JK atleast had returned to india for soul-searching in philosophy.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • ACHUTH BANTWAL, BANTWAL MNGLR

    Fri, Oct 03 2014

    as she got good life with care by the adopted parents in germany she must be grateful to them. however she can go for searching her amblical mother in proper way without any problem to others who had shown the way of life. even she can come and stay in mangalore as professional which will help her to trace them.

    DisAgree Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Irine, Blore

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    Hello John? Ungrateful to whom you mean? To the foster mother? To the sisters of NSWC or Selvam? I am confused. She is not at all blaming her foster mother here. She is only trying to find out the truth if you read the entire news. Please excuse if I am wrong, but why you guys are against her in finding her biological mother? She had come to India with her foster mother’s support and I am sure even she is keen in knowing the entire story behind adoption. Anyway truth will come out soon and I hope that many will learn a lesson especially the agencies who are involved in adoption business!
    I heard from the known sources that there are many families return the children’s after adopting and keeping them in their house for few months or years due to mismatch of color, eating habits, behavioral issues etc. I am sure this might have happened with Maria as well in Germany, else she would have not even thought about finding her real mother.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Albert, Mangalore

    Fri, Oct 03 2014

    If it is proved that she has be sold for money in the name of adoption, severe action should be taken against those involved. Adoption should not be made as business.In the name of social service adoption business in totally wrong

    DisAgree [1] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dolphy Charles, Mangalore/Dubai

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    She should be greatful to all people who helped her to come up in society, She has commited a mistake by doing publicity. If she finds her mother on the streets in a poor living condition, is she willing to accept her and live with her.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • john, udupi

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    Shame on her. ungrateful

    DisAgree [6] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sundari Ashoknagar, Mangalore

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    But for the sisters and German mother who adopted her, she would have been a street urchin, no proper food, no education. She must thank the Almighty God for giving all the people at that time.To feed people in the orphanage, have we given any donation? I have not given. So I have no right to criticize them. What is she saying, sending the sisters to jail? Ungrateful creature, you are not fit to be called a human being. Even a dog, if fed once or twice, will recognise the feeder and will be grateful. Those who support her in her mission to send the sisters to jail should know the situation better. If some unwed mother comes to them, will they accept her and feed her until her delivery or take care of that baby lifelong? We should be thankful to God and human beings who help us in shaping our future. Unda manege eradu bageyabeda.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [61] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anu, Mangalore/UAE

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    she seems to be ungrateful for the life she has been given. shame that she wants to take to task the very same people who helped her live a life of dignity.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [50] Reply Report Abuse

  • Juliana, Pandeshwar

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    Maria should face the reality and stop blame/accuse the sisters and file case against them after so many years. Stop troubling the German Parents who have given a life to her and start counting the blessings that she has received from God almighty and thank the sisters for giving her a good future which so many children lack all around the world..she is fortunate to have one. I am born and brought up around this area and do know the sisters and have personal experience on how to-date they are sacrificing their lives for other's well being.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [60] Reply Report Abuse

  • Reema shetty, Mangalore

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    Business in the name of charity, orphanage etc.

    DisAgree [73] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh, Mangalore

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    Maria Chaya Schupp should come out with evidence that money has been given by her foster mother for adaptation

    DisAgree [6] Agree [50] Reply Report Abuse

  • Austin Peres, Mangalore

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    I feel it is unnecessary to make an issue out of nothing and spoil the name of the sisters of Charity. As per my knowledge the sisters of charity do a lot of service to the society and specially to the poorest amoung the poor. They have several orphanages in several places. I have seen in my own eyes some of their centres which many good hearted people support. One such is St Joseph Prashanti Nilaya, Jeppu, Mangalore where there are around 450 inmates including Old aged, Mentally and Physically challenged, destitutes, abandoned children and aged people etc. They are cared and loved by these sisters. Some People are there to talk a lot of ill about these sisters but how many of them will volunteer to provide one simple meal to these inmates. Do the readers know how many children were adopted by the Nirmala Social Welfare Centre in Ullal(recognised by the Govt.). How many abandoned infants have received Parents through this Centre. I am told that today due to this one issue the Sisters had to face unnecessary harassment for no fault of theirs and for that sake they have closed down adoption. It is a loss not to the Sisters but for the society at large. Has anyone realised this.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [100] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sweta, Ullal/Muscat

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    Maria Chaya, Sisters at Nirmala have taken care of your mother by accepting you and several other young women who may have become unwed mothers. Your mother must have been in great misery hence she gave you up for adoption. Stop looking for her for she may have her own family now and acknowledging you as her daughter may ruin the lives not only hers but also other members of her family. Instead of being bitter at your hurt ego, be grateful to God that He provided you with a foster family to grow up with. Can you imagine what would happen to you if you were left on the streets?

    DisAgree [8] Agree [111] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vinson Vaz, Kadri, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    A lot of skeletons are going to come tumbling out of many persons' cupboards. The end result may be nasty and the facts indigestible for a all concerned!

    DisAgree [30] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shankar, Mangalore

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    Maria Chaya Schupp should understand that though the means of her being adopted was illegal, she is indebted to the Sisters who took care of her for a short time. But for the sisters of NSWC, she wouldn't have had a life that she has now.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [82] Reply Report Abuse

  • vincy, bangkok

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    Now I understand that the whole support here is to punish the NSWC sisters.
    I don't think the sisters have taken any money, there might be donation received from the Germans for the charity work.
    Yes this is Mangalore anything can happen
    We do not have sisters when a child is orphaned but many brothers are ready to take this lady to teach a lesson for the charity people.

    DisAgree [17] Agree [74] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Fri, Oct 03 2014

    @Vincy Bankkok,I think you didnt understand here a few things.she is not there topunish sisters,.She wants to know her origin ,sisters are not giving her the real documents and lieing.They know it and denying .It is not the first case about the adaoption Business from India from sisters.many had happened.They sold Babys without proper channel,.she was derived of her mother.many children were taken out soon after th e delivery saying to treat the childand later told child expired ,in fact child was given to parents who had no children through agents.It was documented through Video (Iam not saying this particular case).whenshe wants to know who and where her mother is it is her emotional Feelings ,we dont understand because we had one .Thats why we should not comment silly things.when one wants to help,help otherwise spare comments.Many adapted children go in search of their parents and find sometimes after many years .and they feel emotional balanced.Many times These adapted children face Problems which normal children dont have either in School ,envirement,andfeel lonely.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bryan, Bahrain

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    She should stop looking at those files, this is just waste of time and money, How much longer you can continue her fight, you should Thank God every day, that you grew up proud by your adopted parents, don’t make your situation more complex, for this is the Miracle of Life. Please note, Some adventures should never be repeated...

    DisAgree [12] Agree [98] Reply Report Abuse

  • avani, mlore

    Thu, Oct 02 2014

    Hmmmm....looks like in India every charity has an agenda behind!

    DisAgree [87] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: German's search for biological mother hints at abuse of adoption law



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.