Hindu Adoptions And Maintenance Act, 1956

Capacity of a male Hindu to take in adoption

7. Any male Hindu who is of sound mind and is not a minor has the capacity to take a son or a daughter in adoption :

Provided that, if he has a wife living, he shall not adopt except with the consent of his wife unless the wife has completely and finally renounced the world or has ceased to be a Hindu or has been declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be of unsound mind.

Explanation : If a person has more than one wife living at the time of adoption, the consent of all the wives is necessary unless the consent of any one of them is unnecessary for any of the reasons specified in the preceding proviso.