Madonna granted permission to adopt Mercy

London, (ANI): Madonna can adopt a second child from Malawi, the country's highest court has ruled. Earlier the star was stopped from adopting four-year-old orphan Chifundo Mercy James. Back in April, a judge had dumped the 50-year-old"s adoption plans by saying prospective parents had to be resident in Malawi for 18 months.

However, the appeals court said that decision did not take into account the singer's commitment to helping disadvantaged children, reports The BBC. While praising Madonna's interest in helping Malawi orphans, the southern African state's chief justice, Lovemore Munlo, said the child would have a better life with the star.

She was also financially stable, he added. "We therefore grant the adoption," he said. Judge Esmie Chondo ruled out the adoption in April, citing residency rules. Those rules were waived in 2006 when Madonna adopted a boy, David, from the southern African state.