Hyderabad, Jan. 31 -- The Telangana High Court has refused to grant custody of a minor girl to a couple who adopted her outside the legally prescribed framework, holding that emotional attachment cannot be used to legitimise illegal adoptions.

Warning that any relaxation of statutory procedures would fuel child trafficking, the court said adoption laws exist to protect vulnerable children and cannot be bypassed under the guise of compassion.

The observations were made by a bench of Justice T. Madhavi Devi while rejecting a plea filed by a Suryapet-based couple.

Petitioners violate CARA norms

The petitioners had obtained the child through a private individual without the consent or knowledge of the biological parents, in violation of t...