JUDGMENT :

A girl child was found abandoned in the Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram Superfast Express on 7.5.2007 by the Railway Police, Kottayam. She was assessed to be about 3½ years old. The Police took the child to "Thanal", an organisation formed by the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Kottayam, for looking after destitute women and children. The 3rd petitioner was the Secretary of the organisation. The matter regarding the abandonment of the child was reported in all leading dailies in order to find out her parents/relatives. There was no response. After medical examination and requisite treatment, the child was produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Kottayam on 18.5.2007, who granted temporary custody of the child to the rd petitioner. On 18.8.2007, the Chief Judicial Magistrate passed an order directing to hand over the custody of the child to Infant Jesus Bhavan, Rajamattam, Umbidi P.O. The 3rd petitioner challenged the order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate in W.P.(C)No. 25900 of 2007. This Court issued an interim order staying the operation of the order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate. The interim stay granted was extended until further orders by