British Sikh couple denied to adopt white child for Indian origin

The agency told Sandeep and Reena that white couples would be preferred to adopt white children.

The agency also asked the couple not to apply because they won't be given priority to adopt white child, which was their requirement.

Berkshire based Sandeep and Reena, were trying to give birth to their own baby for last seven years and later decided to go for adoption. The rejection by the adoption agency forced them to fight a legal battle in the Slough county court.

Sandeep was quoted as speaking to Hindustan Times, "Giving an adopted child – no matter what race – the security of a loving home was all we wanted to do. What we didn’t expect was a refusal for us to even apply for adoption, not because of our incapability to adopt, but because our cultural heritage was defined as ‘Indian/Pakistani’."

The legal case of the couple is backed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

EHRC termed the denial by the adoption agency as "wrong".

The case was first taken up by the then UK home secretary, Theresa May, who took steps into the matter even after becoming the PM. Sandeep said May was shocked to hear the incident and suggested him and his wife to take legal step.