On Monday, the Bombay High Court in Mumbai upheld the constitutional validity of a 2021 amendment to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which allows District Magistrates (DMs) to handle adoption pleas instead of civil courts. This decision comes after the court vacated a stay on the amendment's implementation, which had been in effect since November 1, 2023. The amendment, effective from September 1, 2022, replaces references to 'court' with 'district magistrate' in relevant sections of the Act. The court addressed concerns raised by petitioners, including a resident from Kandivali, who argued that the shift of powers could undermine the due process historically overseen by courts. However, the bench, comprising Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande, dismissed these concerns as unfounded, emphasizing that DMs are already equipped to perform quasi-judicial functions under various laws. The court expressed confidence in the ability of District Magistrates to ensure the welfare of children and effectively evaluate the eligibility of prospective adoptive parents, thereby facilitating the adoption process across Maharashtra.