Kozhikode: Officer Sherif Ullath in trap' over illegal adoption

KOZHIKODE: Sherif Ullath, chairman of the Malappuram Child Welfare Committee, has landed in trouble over allegedly facilitating the illegal adoption of a newborn. The police has filed an FIR against him as per the complaint of Social Justice Department director under IPC section 370 (trafficking of child) and 80 (illegal adoption) of Juvenile Justice Act. According to the FIR,  Mr Ullath flouted the rules by intervening in the handing over of the child to someone who was not its biological parent. “The further inquiry would be conducted by DySP DCRB,” said Malappuram police sub- inspector B.S. Binu.

The police said that a woman had given  birth to a boy at a hospital in Kozhikode on September 11, 2015 allegedly out of extramarital relations.  On the third day, the newborn was surrendered to the foundling home of the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare at its Kodoor centre in Malappuram. After a few weeks, the child was handed over to a childless couple of Edapal. Malappuram district child protection officer Samir Machingal said that as per the records of the foundling home, the child was surrendered by the biological mother but was taken back by its biological father.

Also, no report of the social worker about the adopted couple was filed. “If a child is surrendered, a 60-day winter period is necessary for taking the kid back. No handing over the kid to anyone is recommended without the consent of the mother,” he said.  No counselling was given to the mother. Mr  Ullath told DC that the case was fabricated. “I neither have any role in the incident nor do I  know any of the persons. This is  the result of the tug-of-war between the district child protection unit and me,” he alleged. Mr Ullath said that he had objected to the DCPO in the suspension of two staff at government observation home at Thavanur and in the raid at the Andhra colony in Malappuram. “This is a fallout of those incidents,” he said.