Under the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act 1956, a boy of 16 years of age may validly be taken into…

Section 10(iv) of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act 1956 requires that the child has not completed fifteen years, unless a custom or usage applicable to the parties permits persons above that age to be adopted. A boy of 16 may therefore be adopted only "If custom or usage applicable to parties so permits"; a contract between the parties or the father's consent cannot override the age bar.