India, July 18 -- The Bombay high court on Wednesday ruled that authorities in the country cannot permit an Indian couple to adopt a child of foreign citizenship, even if related to them, as there is no provision for the same in the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act or existing adoption regulations.

"There is no provision in the JJ Act nor the adoption regulations providing for adoption of a child of foreign citizenship even between relatives, unless it's a 'child in need of care and protection' or a 'child in conflict with law'," the division bench of justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale said while dismissing a petition filed by a Pune-based couple.

The couple, married in 2011, wanted to adopt the six-year...