London: An Indian couple in the UK has appealed to British authorities to allow both of their children to live in India with their families who are under the supervision of Foster Care (authorities in the UK). The couple recently won an appeal in a UK court. Parents’ names cannot be made public for legal reasons.
The couple, originally from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, moved to the UK in 2004. He lost contact with his children, 11-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter, in August 2015 when he was taken into the care of local Birmingham-based childcare authorities. Their case was in the family courts and last week a UK appellate court ruled that the Birmingham Children’s Trust should seek court approval before applying for UK citizenship of children in view of “parental protests”. The 52-year-old civil engineer said, “I am an Indian citizen. My children are also Indian citizens. We would love to go back to India. We do not want UK citizenship for children. We have made it clear. “
He said, “The High Commission of India supported the return of my children during the hearing of the case in court.” The Consulate General of India (CGI) in Birmingham said that it was providing consular and legal assistance in the last four years of legal battles for the guardians.
CGI in Birmingham said in a statement, “We had said in the honorable family court in Birmingham that the Indian Consulate wants to provide support for children’s welfare needs and make necessary arrangements for Indian passports for children.” We will look after their flight costs, their care arrangements for India. ” The CGI stated that it is continuing to monitor the progress of the case and has also assisted the parents in obtaining a report from the Child Welfare Committee, District Nagapattinam, about a possible guardian of children in Tamil Nadu.
The Indian consulate said, “We must understand that the matter is sub judice in court and any comment on the case may not be appropriate.” Speaking in Tamil, the father said, “My sole purpose of living here (in Birmingham) is to free my children from the authorities of Britain and send them to India.” … Children will lead a safe and peaceful life in India. ” His wife, (45) is also an Indian citizen and hails from Tamil Nadu. She is now living in Singapore with her mother and her four and a half year old daughter. She had left Britain during pregnancy in fear that she might not lose her third child.
