The amendment stipulated that the DM hold the adoption proceedings in-camera and dispose of the cases within two months from the date of application filed by a specialised adoption agency. (File Photo) The Bombay Hight Court on Monday held that district magistrates (DMs) are competent to decide adoption proceedings and upheld the provision of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Act, 2021, that granted powers to DMs to issue adoption orders. “We have no doubt in our mind that the District Magistrate is well suited to act and assist in the welfare of the children and the Petitioners’ assumption is wrong, as it expects the sensitivity of implementing the child placement process in the course of adoption,” a bench of Justices Bharati H Dangre and Manjusha A Deshpande held. The bench vacated an earlier order that directed governments not to transfer pending adoption matters, including foreign adoptions, before the DMs for adjudication.…