Abandoned baby gets new home: orphanage

When asked, her father, Bhusabhai Devipujak said, ‘‘We may approach the court soon.’’ His wife Hansaben had told the police that they did not want the baby as they were ‘‘unable to support’’ the sixth girl child. The Devipujaks live in Navsangpara slums behind Rajkot District Collector’s office and work as daily-wage labourers.

They were booked under Section 317 of the IPC and arrested on September 14. The police say they cannot do more.

‘‘The police will continue the investigation, but technically, the case has reached a dead end. The parents were arrested and released on bail. Now, the court can only intervene when parents demand custody,’’ said G A Sarviya, the incharge of the A-Division police station and the investigating officer. ‘‘There is no provision in law using which the police can force the parents to take the child home,’’ he added.

The police are yet to file a chargesheet.

At the orphanage, in-charge M Dave said, ‘‘The baby is healthy and very cute. She has been kept at Ghodiyaghar, a special ward for infants. We will soon name her.”

Dave says this is an unusual case. ‘‘This may be the first case where parents of a newborn are alive and everybody knows about them,’’ Dave said.

Only infants above two months old can be given for adoption. ‘‘But in this case, legal procedure could delay the process,” Dave said.