'Intervening & Engaging With German Authorities': MEA On Indian Baby In Foster Care In Germany

The German authorities had taken one-and-a-half year old baby Ariha, daughter of a Gujarati couple, under their care, alleging the parents sexually harassed their child.

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New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs, speaking on the case of a baby in foster care in Germany, said that the Government of India has been intervening and engaging with the German authorities over a year and the Indian Embassy in Berlin has also been extending all possible assistance, news agency ANI reported.

“We are conscious of privacy issues and the sensitive nature of the circumstances surrounding the case. The Embassy of India, Berlin has also been extending relevant consular assistance to the family,” MEA said.

“It is also engaging with the German authorities with an expectation of early conclusion of the court proceedings. All efforts are being made to ensure the well-being and protection of the rights of the child,” MEA further said.

It is to be noted that the German authorities had taken one-and-a-half year old baby Ariha, daughter of a Gujarati couple under their care, alleging the parents sexually harassed their child.

According to the couple, Ariha's grandmother hurt the baby by accident in September last year. When they took her to a hospital, the German authorities accused them of sexual assault against the child and took her away from their care, the couple said.

The couple started a legal battle and even after the charges were cleared, they were asked to take a ‘fit-to-be-parents’ test.

Moreover, the Berlin Child Services has filed a civil custody case for the parental rights to be terminated. This case will take two-three years and a trial date has still not been set, the couple said.

Ariha’s parents have been fighting the case in Germany, but fear that the Child Services are stretching it to take advantage of the "continuity principle" of child law. As per this principle, if a child has spent a significant period with the state-appointed carer, it is said to be settled there and should not be shifted back to the parents, even if they are found to be fit.