90-Year-Old Mumbai Man Approaches HC to Adopt Caretaker as Son

Mumbai, 8th April 2026: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the central and Maharashtra governments to respond to a petition filed by a 90-year-old retired professor and gynaecologist seeking legal permission to adopt his long-time caretaker as his son.

The petitioner, Bomsi Wadia, a resident of Opera House in south Mumbai, has approached the court requesting that authorities be directed to register an adoption deed in favour of his 43-year-old caretaker, Rajeev Jha. Wadia has also asked the court to recognise what he describes as his right to adopt an adult individual with whom he has shared a long association.

According to the petition, Wadia has never married and has no children. His only sister has passed away, leaving behind two daughters and a son. The plea states that Jha, who follows the Hindu faith, has been living with Wadia since 1999 and has been caring for him for more than two decades.
Through his lawyer Suresh Mane, Wadia informed the court that he is physically and mentally fit and wishes to adopt Jha so that his family name and legacy continue after his lifetime.

The petition argues that Indian law does not clearly allow the adoption of adults, creating what it describes as a legislative gap. It notes that several countries, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany and Switzerland, have legal provisions for adult adoption.

Wadia’s counsel told the court that the petitioner has already executed a will, granted power of attorney to Jha and issued various legal documents in his favour. However, the process faced a setback when the registrar refused to register the adoption deed in August 2025.

Representing the state government, advocate Jyoti Chavan pointed out that Wadia owns several properties, including a bungalow in the Four Bungalows area, and assets worth crores of rupees listed in his will.

In response, Mane argued that Wadia has the legal right to dispose of his property as he chooses. He also said that although Wadia was born into the Parsi community, he has always believed in constitutional secularism.
During the hearing, the state’s counsel suggested that Wadia’s nephew, who is the executor of his will, should be made a party to the case. The court observed that the matter requires deeper examination and indicated that the nephew could be called if necessary.

The hearing has been adjourned to April 28, when the court is expected to consider responses from the central and state governments on the legal question surrounding adult adoption in India.