Notice of petition and appointment of reporting officer and curator ad litem
67.23.—(1) On the presentation of the petition, the court shall pronounce an interlocutor–
(a)requiring the petitioner to serve a notice in Form 67.23–
(i)where the child has been placed for adoption, on the adoption agency which placed the child; and
(ii)where the child has not been placed for adoption, on the local authority within whose area the petitioner has his home;
(b)appointing a reporting officer unless the child is free for adoption and under the age of 12 years; and
(c)appointing a curator ad litem where it appears desirable in order to safeguard the interests of the child.
(2) Where a curator ad litem is appointed under paragraph (1), the court may order–
(a)the adoption agency,
(b)the local authority, or
(c)the reporting officer,
to make available to the curator ad litem any report or information in relation to the child and the natural father and mother of the child.
(3) A person may, before presenting the petition, apply by letter to the Deputy Principal Clerk for the appointment of a reporting officer.
(4) An application under paragraph (3) shall–
(a)set out the reasons for which the appointment is sought;
(b)not require to be intimated to any person;
(c)be accompanied by an interlocutor sheet; and
(d)be placed by the Deputy Principal Clerk before the Lord Ordinary for his decision.
(5) The Deputy Principal Clerk shall give written intimation to the applicant under paragraph (3) of the decision of the Lord Ordinary.
(6) The decision of the Lord Ordinary on an application under paragraph (3) shall be final and not subject to review.
(7) The letter and the interlocutor sheet in an application under paragraph (3) shall be kept in the Petition Department and subsequently placed in the process of the petition.