Indian Paperwork

India / New Delhi Legal Context: 1981–1983

Between 1981 and 1983, foreign adoptions in India operated under the Guardians and Wards Act of 1890 (GWA) and the Foreigners Act of 1946, there was no national adoption authority yet. Religious and charitable institutions, including the Missionaries of Charity (MoC), acted as de facto guardianships and arranged international transfers through local courts in New Delhi.

Governing statute:
The GWA (1890) Sections 7 and 17 empowered district courts to appoint guardians “for the welfare of the minor.” This was the only legal route for foreign placements until CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) was created in 1990. Adoption itself was not recognized for non-Hindus, so MoC and other Christian institutions relied on temporary guardianships that permitted children to travel abroad for final adoption.

Process in New Delhi:

1. MoC identified infants or toddlers labeled “available for guardianship.”
2. A petition was filed in the Tis Hazari (District Court of Delhi) naming the foreign couple or their agent (often a doctor or missionary) as prospective guardian.
3. The court issued a Guardianship Order under GWA Section 17 “for purposes of normal medical treatment or adoption abroad.”
4. The order enabled the issuance of passports and exit permits through the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of External Affairs.
5. Final adoption occurred in the US.

Scrutiny and oversight (1981–83):
There was supposed to be case review by the Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) or Indian Council for Social Welfare (ICSW), but this was inconsistently applied. The Supreme Court later found the system open to abuse and codified stricter rules in Lakshmi Kant Pandey v. Union of India (1984), ordering mandatory investigations and bans on direct transfers.

Financial practices:
MoC and similar homes accepted “donations” from foreign couples or agencies. These payments were not illegal per se but effectively functioned as fees, since no central accounting or audit process existed before 1984.

Documentation and identity:
Names, ages, and even religions of children were often altered for travel documents to satisfy foreign embassy requirements. The lack of a unified civil-registration system allowed wide discretion, especially for orphans with no birth certificates.

From 1981 through 1983, Indian law allowed foreign guardianships but not direct adoptions by non-citizens. In New Delhi, religious orders such as the MoC used this legal gap to transfer children abroad through Tis Hazari court orders, often without meaningful scrutiny or biological-family consent. These actions were technically legal under the Guardians and Wards Act, but ethically and procedurally deficient, leading to the Supreme Court’s 1984 reforms that finally imposed central oversight.

Guardianship and transfer happened in the window of total legal vacuum — 1981 to early 1983 — when India had no national authority (CARA didn’t exist), The Tis Hazari Court could issue guardianship orders without real scrutiny, and religious orders like the MoC operated unchecked, moving children abroad under “medical” or “adoption” pretexts.

The Lakshmi Kant Pandey v. Union of India ruling came in February 1984, only months after Deepa was adopted in the US, and it explicitly banned the unregulated guardianship transfers and direct-placement practices that had been used to send her out of India. Unfortunately coming just a little too late to save little Deepa from illegal medical experimentation.

Intake Moc New Delhi 09/12/1981

Childs name: Deepa [Bozza or LONG written in a different color ink]

Sex: Female

Religion: ______

Baptized: ______

Born on: 9 Sept 1980 Brought from Agra

Born at: ? AGRA

Adj. D.O.B. 10.10.81

Do you and Doctor agree with this birthdate? YES

Handicap, or any other problems? Rt. leg amputated below the knee

on account of an accident.

Measurements:

Height: 72 cms. Weight: 8.7 kg Head: 45 cm Chest: 49 cm Teeth: 8

Sits: yes Crawls: yes Stands: with support Walks: with support

Toilet trained: N/A

Talks Hindi: N/A

English: ______

Personality, likes/dislikes: likes the company of other babies

but doesn’t like strangers.

Anything else: has thrush.

How did the child behave during medical? cried a lot

How does he act at SB? She is active, friendly and affectionate.

Which sister is looking after him? Sr. Teresina

How many other children in group? ______

What is sister’s opinion of him? Normal healthy baby, sweet tempered and sympathetic baby.

What does he eat? Farex baby cereal, Kichiri (rice, meat, or fish, veg + gram),

Milk, fruit, biscuits.

Vaccinations: MANTOUX NEG

nb. Please look for scars of BCG and smallpox during medical: no BCG

Tests:

Blood: OK

Chest X Ray: Clear

Urine: ______

Stool: ______

Any other: ______

Any extra medical attention from specialist: Right leg got cut off

just below the knee in a train accident.

Which one? ______

Why? ______

MoC Birth Certificate

MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY

(REGISTERED)

"As long as you did it to one of these My least brethren, you did it to me"

12-Commissioners Lane,

DELHI-110054.

Dated: February 17, 1982.

BIRTH CERTIFICATE

TO WHOMSOEVER IT MAY CONCERN :

THIS IS TO CERTIFY that a female child named Miss DEEPA LONG was born at Agra on the 9th of September, 1980 (Ninth of September, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty) of unknown parents and was abandoned outside the gates of Missionaries of Charity there by some unknown person.

Eversince she has remained in the foster-care and custody of this organisation.

Sd/- Srim. Teresina m.c.

(SISTER TERESINA) M.C.

India Adoption Deed - Guardian case # 112

THIS DEED of Adoption made at Delhi, this 16th day of

April, 1982, for the adoption of Miss DEEPA LONG (minor), born

on 9th September, 1980, in Agra, between Sister Maureen,

Missionaries of Charity, 12-Commissioners Lane, Delhi, the

joint guardian acting on behalf of herself and as Attorney

of Mr. S. Eugene Long S/O Mr. William Staton Long and Mrs.

Hendrika Ram Long W/O Mr. S. Eugene Long, both R/O 5626

Oakland Mills Rd., Columbia, Maryland, USA, the adoptive

parents (hereinafter referred to as Party of the First Part),

and Sister Amabel, Missionaries of Charity, 12-Commissioners

Lane, Delhi, the Foster Mother giving in adoption (hereinafter

referred to as Party of the Second Part).

In the Guardianship Case No. 112 of 1982 in the Court

of Shri Jagdish Chandra, District Judge, Delhi, the said Court

had appointed Mr. S. Eugene Long, Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long and

Sister Maureen as the joint guardians of the aforesaid Miss

DEEPA LONG (minor), with permission to adopt her as a daughter

by its order dated 15-4-82, delivered in open Court.

This Deed witnesseth the handing over of the minor,

Miss DEEPA LONG by Sister Amabel who is giving the said minor

in adoption to Mr. S. Eugene Long and Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long,

who have taken custody of Miss Deepa Long for adopting the

minor as their daughter, through their Attorney and ...

India Adoption Deed - Guardian case # 112

joint guardian, Sister Maureen.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF Sister Amabel, Foster Mother, giving in adoption and Mr. S. Eugene Long and Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long, the adoptive parents, have hereunto set their hands on the day and year first above written, through their attorney and joint guardian, Sister Maureen.

(Signed)

S. Maureen M.C.

FIRST PARTY

(SISTER MAUREEN)

Missionaries of Charity,

12–Commissioners Lane, Delhi,

as co-guardian and on behalf of:

Mr. S. Eugene Long.
Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long.

WITNESSES:

Sr. M. Angelette M.C.
Sr. M. Teresima M.C.

(Signed)

Sr. M. Amabel M.C.

SECOND PARTY

(SISTER AMABEL)

Missionaries of Charity,

12–Commissioners Lane, DELHI.

(Stamped)

THE SEAL OF NOTARY DELHI

Approved by Central Govt. of India

G. P. Jain

(Two ₹1 and ₹2 NOTARIAL stamps affixed)

ATTESTED

(Signature illegible)

16 APR 1982

Affidavit

AFFIDAVIT

I, Sister Teresina, Missionaries of Charity, 12–Commissioners Lane, Delhi–110054, do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:

That I am the Senior Sister of the Missionaries of Charity and am incharge of the handling of adoption cases on behalf of the said Mission. As such, it is under my supervision and direction that orphans abandoned with us are given to foster parents who want to adopt children from our Mission.
That Mr. S. Eugene Long S/O Mr. William Staton Long, and Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long W/O Mr. S. Eugene Long, M.D., both R/O 5626 Oakland Mills Rd., Columbia, Maryland, USA, applied to us for adopting a child. Following this request, we arranged to give a female child named DEEPA LONG to the applicants aforementioned.
That thereafter Mr. S. Eugene Long and Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long undertook to adopt the minor named DEEPA LONG. For this purpose, the applicants sent us the necessary documents and papers for making an application in the Court of the District Judge, Delhi.

That an application under Sections 7 & 26 of the Guardians and Wards Act has been moved in the Court of the District Judge, Delhi, on behalf of the applicants referred to hereinabove and the said application is pending final hearing and disposal.

That an applicantion under Section 7 & 26 of the Guardians&Wards Act has been moved in the Court of the District Judge, Delhi, on behald od the applicants referred to hereinabove and the said application is pending final hearing and disposal.
I hereby manifest that once the proceedings above-mentioned are entered into, we do not revoke our agreement with the said adoptive parents. The allocation of the minor to…

Affidavit

-- 2 --

Mr. S. Eugene Long and Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long shall not be revoked.

6. On behalf of the Missionaries of Charity, I undertake to irrevocably release the aforesaid minor for immigration to the USA and subsequent adoption by Mr. & Mrs. Long. We shall not make any further claims on the said minor. The minor has been abandoned by her unknown parents and has been in our custody ever since.

7. The said minor, named DEEPA LONG was born at Agra on the 9th of September, 1980.

8. This Affidavit is to be treated as a Release Deed for the minor till such time as the final orders making the minor a lawful ward of Mr. S. Eugene Long and Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long are passed by the District Judge, Delhi.

Sd/- S. m. Teresina m.c.

DEPONENT

VERIFICATION:

Verified at Delhi, this 25 FEB 1982 day of February, 1982, that the contents of paras 1 to 8 above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief; nothing is incorrect or false and nothing material has been concealed therefrom.

Sd/- S. m. Teresina m.c.

DEPONENT

[Stamp in purple ink, angled across text:]

"ATTESTED"

Initials/signature beneath

Dated: 25 FEB 1982

[Round purple seal at bottom right:]

"THE SEAL OF NOTARIAL

Appointed by Central Govt. of India

DELHI"

Public Notice

(Upper Left Box – handwritten/typed notes)

Affidavit (First)

Re: DEEPA Long

Born 9-9-80

Adopted

[signature]

16/4/82

——————————————

(Newspaper clipping attached, left side of page)

Form of Notice under Section 11 of Act VIII of 1890

In the Court of Shri Jagdish Chandra, District Judge, Delhi, Guardianship Case No. 112/82.

In the matter of guardianship of minor Deepa Long, born on 9-9-1980 through Sister Maureen. … Petitioners.

Whereas an application for guardianship of the minor above named has been made to this Court. Notice is hereby given that the Court has fixed 3-4-1982 for hearing of the petition. Any person having objection to the appointment of guardians as aforesaid should appear on the date fixed and file objections.

Given under my hand and the seal of this Court, this 23rd day of February, 1982.

Seal of the District Judge Delhi

Sd/- Jagdish Chandra

District Judge, Delhi

—————————————

(Main Body – typed text)

Form of Appointment under Section 7 of Act No. VIII of 1890 (GUARDIANS AND WARDS ACT) IN THE COURT OF SH. JAGDISH CHANDRA, DISTRICT JUDGE, DELHI.

GUARDIANSHIP CASE No. 112/82. DISPOSED OF ON: 15.4.82.

In the matter of guardianship of Miss Deepa Long, minor, born on 9.9.1980 through Mr. S. Eugene Long and Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long both residents of 5626 Oakland Mills Rd., Columbia, Maryland, USA and Sister Maureen.

WHEREAS Sister Maureen … attorney of Mr. S. Eugene Long and Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long and on behalf of herself … made an application to this Court on 23.2.82 under Sections 7 and 26 of the Guardians and Wards Act, Act No. VIII of 1890 for their appointment as joint guardians of the minor Deepa Long for leave to take the minor out of the jurisdiction of this Court.

AND WHEREAS this matter was heard by this Court on 3.4.82.

AND whereas this Court has ordered vide its judgment dated 15th April 1982 that Mr. S. Eugene Long, Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long and Sister Maureen … are appointed as joint guardians of Miss Deepa Long, minor till 8.9.2001. The joint guardians or anyone of them is permitted to remove this minor to America and will also submit periodic reports in regard to the welfare of the child to the Indian Council for Child Welfare, New Delhi.

NOW, therefore, in consideration of the premises and the law this certificate is hereby issued appointing Mr. S. Eugene Long, Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long and Sister Maureen … as the joint guardians of Miss Deepa Long and to do and perform all acts which may be necessary to the due discharge of the obligations vested in them. The joint guardians or anyone of them is permitted to remove Miss Deepa Long outside the jurisdiction of this court and take her to America preparatory to her adoption there by Mr. S. Eugene Long and Mrs. Hendrika Ram Long, according to the local laws of their country.

Given under my hand and the seal of this court this 16th day of April, 1982.

(Top Right of Page)

Photo of child, caption:

Miss Deepa Long (minor)

(Bottom of page)

Circular seal visible:

“DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGE, DELHI”

March Belinda Perry Letter MoC

Missionaries of Charity,

12 Commissioners Lane,

Delhi 110054.

March 8th, 1982.

Dr. and Mrs. S. E. Long,

5626 Oakland Mills Road,

COLUMBIA,

MD 21045.

Dear Hendrika and Eugene,

Please find enclosed:

Birth Certificate

Affidavit by Missionaries of Charity

Letter from Lawyer

These documents will enable you to make the preliminary

application for the I-600 visa. After your case has been passed

by the judge in court, we will be sending the remaining documents

to enable you to complete the application.

Deepa is doing very well. The sister in charge of the room

says that Deepa is talking alot and seems a happy child. She is

able to jump up and down, supporting herself on the side of her

crib. She is also described as being motherly!

Yours sincerely,

[Signed] Belinda Perry

Belinda Perry.

April Belina Perry Letter MoC

Missionaries of Charity,

12 Commissioners Lane,

Delhi 110054.

April 28th, 1982.

Dr and Mrs S. E. Long,

5626 Oakland Mills Rd.,

COLUMBIA,

MD 21045.

Dear Hendrika and Eugene,

Please find enclosed the following documents:

Copy of Court Order

Adoption Deed

Affidavit by Missionaries of Charity (2)

These are the final documents from Deepa's court case.

Also enclosed is a copy of the newspaper advertisement of Deepa's case. This is just for your interest.

Deepa is fine. Today, when I saw her she was standing in her crib surveying the others in her room. We know that the wait for Deepa is very difficult and are doing our best to get her to you as soon as is possible. Deepa's passport was issued yesterday and after her final medical check-up, we will take her to the Embassy where her visa will finally be issued. Then, hopefully, it will not be long before you are all together.

Yours sincerely,

[signed] Belinda Perry

Belinda Perry.

Telegram of Arrival

MAILGRAM SERVICE CENTER

MIDDLETOWN, VA, 22645

western union Mailgram

4-081002S127002 05/08/82 ICS IPMBNGZ CSP BALB

1 2129842767 MGM TDBN STATION ISLAND NY 05-07 1157P EST

S E LONG

5626 OAKLAND MILLS RD

COLUMBIA MD 21045

THIS MAILGRAM IS A CONFIRMATION COPY OF THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE:

TDBN STATION ISLAND NY 05-07 1157P EST

INT LINDA JHALANI

MISSIONARY

NEW DELHI (INDIA)

DEEPA ARRIVED SAFELY IN GOOD SPIRITS SLEEPING SOUNDLY NOW MANY THANKS

DOCTOR AND MRS S.E. LONG

00:00 EST

MGMCOMP

06/10/82 Belinda Perry letter

MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY

( REGISTERED )

As long as you did it to one of these My least brethren,

you did it to me

June 10th, 1982.

Dear Hendrika,

Thank you for your letter of 21 April. A quick note

in reply.

We know little about Deepa, except that she was found

by the railway line in Agra. Her mother was found to have

been killed there, by a passing train. The police tried to

find friends or relations with no success. She was taken to

the Missionaries of Charity home at Agra and thence transferred

to Shishu Bhavan in Delhi.

I hope that you are enjoying Deepa. We look forward to

hearing from you regularly.

Enclosed please find a few extra photos of Deepa.

Yours sincerely,

[Signed] Belinda Perry.

Belinda Perry.

3rd request Belinda Perry Letter p. 1 of 2

[Handwritten at top left margin]

This is response after 3rd request for info

c/o Missionaries of Charity

Dec 23rd

Dear Dr Long,

I apologise for the delay in replying to your letter of 4 November.

I have been out of Delhi a lot recently and have not had a chance

to make inquiries about Deepa's leg.

It is very doubtful that I can get any information for you. However if you

still need to know about the Agra hospital I will pursue it in January.

I do hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas, it sounds

as if Deepa and you all are enjoying each other!

Despite my tardiness in responding ...

3rd request Belinda Perry Letter p. 2 of 2

[Envelope – Aerogramme]

Front (printed + handwritten):

IX ASIAN GAMES DELHI 1982

S. Eugene Long MD

5626 Oakland Mills Road

Columbia

MD 21045

USA

[Stamp: 270 Paise, India]

Sender’s Name and Address:

M o C

12 Commissioners Lane

Delhi 110054

No Enclosures Allowed

---

Letter (continued, handwritten):

to your questions – please write again +

let me know what you need in the

New Year as I expect to stay in Delhi

for the next few months + can concentrate

on the questions in hand!

All the best

Belinda Perry

Indian Words Deepa Knew before 05/07/1982 p. 1 of 2

bath – nahana

bathroom – bathroom

bed – palang

brush – brush

butter – makhan (mukh-ken)

bowel movement – tut-tee (tu tu)

car – gāri (ga-ri)

chair – kursi

change (clothes) – badalna

clothes – kapra (kup-ra)

cold – thunda

comb – kangha

come – ao

drink – peena

food – khana (kar-na)

fork – kanta

fruit – phal

glasses (spectacles) – chashma

hot – garam (gharum)

knife – chhuri (chooree)

medicine – dawai

morning – subah

night – rat (raht)

oil – tel

paper – hagai (car - gai)

shoes – joota

socks – moja

soap – sabuia

Indian Words Deepa Knew before 05/07/1982 p. 2 of 2

bread – roti

juice – juice

mother – mahan

spoon – chamach

table – mej (maige)

towel – tolia

urine – susu (sue-sue)

water – paani (pa-nee)

sleep / song – thewaas (context unclear)

watch / clock – ghari

good girl – achi beti (achi bete)

yes – ha (with nose sound)

down – neechay

up – oopar

dog – kuta (kut-ta)

milk – dudh (dude / dade)

good – achha (aw-cha)

boy – larka

girl – larki

cat – billi

no – nahi (na na)

apple – seb

soup – soup

ice cream – ice cream

baby – baccha

brother – bhai (bhay)

father – baap

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