K.P. Balachandran, J.

The question of legal importance that calls for to be answered in this Writ Petition is as to whether a Christian couple having no issues could legally make an adoption. The answer on the point is determine the fate of the petition, but provided, the further answer also is in the affirmative to the questions as to whether the first petitioner is son thus adopted by late M.V. George. The matter has come up for consideration in the circumstances stated hereunder.

2. Late M.V. George, husband of the second petitioner was a permanent employee under the respondent Indian Oil Corporation. Their marriage was in 1971. They are stated to be Christian belonging to Latin Catholic denomination. There was no issue born out of their wedlock despite lapse of six years of marriage. The second petitioner at the relevant time was working as a staff nurse at the Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode. A male child aged about 7 days found abandoned by its natural parents in the Institute of Maternity and Child Health, a separate wing of the Medical College on 8.10.1977 was handed over by the Superintendent of the Institute to the childless couple who brought him up as thei