The Sindh High Court has ruled that the existing policy of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) regarding the registration of abandoned and orphaned children violates the law. The court directed NADRA to develop a clear and uniform registration mechanism in consultation with Union Councils and the Sindh Social Welfare Department.
An constitutional bench of the court emphasized that children living in registered orphanages must receive official identity documents, including parental details where applicable, instead of being left undocumented. The bench stressed that no group of citizens can be excluded from the national database under any policy.
During the hearing, Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon questioned the absence of a dedicated policy for orphans and asked officials how the state currently treats such children. In response, the Director of Social Welfare informed the court that Sindh has 39 orphanages, with only one operating in Sukkur.
Justice Zulfiqar Sangi strongly disagreed with this claim and expressed dissatisfaction with the department’s lack of awareness. He pointed out that Sukkur alone has three orphanages and criticized the Social Welfare Department for failing to perform its responsibilities despite its mandate.
Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon also reprimanded NADRA’s counsel, stating that the authority’s policy directly conflicts with the law. He warned that demanding decades-old records from abandoned children in the future would amount to further injustice.
The court reiterated that every citizen, including orphaned and abandoned children, has an undeniable right to registration and legal identity.
In its order, the court instructed NADRA to formulate a standardized and inclusive procedure for registering abandoned children, ensuring coordination with local governments and social welfare institutions. The ruling marks a significant step toward protecting the legal identity and rights of some of the most vulnerable children in the province.
