Japanese baby 'Manjhi' to stay with grandmother: Supreme Court

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed that Japanese baby girl Manjhi will remain in the custody of her surrogate grandmother Yamada.

A bench headed by Justice Arijith Payasat stayed the orders of the Rajasthan High court order directing the authorities to take the custody of the child from her Japanese grandmother.

Pritiben had given birth to Manjhi on July 25 after she had rented her womb to a Japanese couple for Rs 2.68 lakh.

The Rajasthan High court, on the petition of an NGO called SATYA, had directed the authorities to take the child's custody.

A petition was filed by the child's grandmother in the Supreme court challanging the High Court order yesterday. Following the court's directions, Yamada pleaded for an urgent hearing of her petition.

While fixing August 20 as the next date of hearing, the court also issued notice to the NGO.

The main objection of the NGO to surrogacy was that it would encourage child trafficking in the country.

The apex court also directed that the infant, who was born in Ahmedabad on July 25 and later shifted to Jaipur in view of bomb explosions, shall remain in the custody of her surrogate grandmother till further order.

UNI SC SB GC2117