The number of Family Courts, set
up under the Family Courts Act, 1984, has gone up from 85 in 2000
to 97 as on date. These courts are disposing of about 50,000 cases
per year.
During the years 1999, 2000
and 2001, the Family Courts disposed of 50,756, 57,948 and 45,809
cases respectively.
The Centre has earmarked 50
per cent funds for assisting the States to establish additional
Family Courts during the current financial year 2002-2003. Thirty-four
new Family Courts are being set up during the current financial
year.
The Family Courts are civil
courts dealing exclusively with dissolution of marriage, declaration
of matrimonial status of any person, declaration of ownership
of proposals of the party concerned, interim order of injunction
arising out of marital relationships, declaration of legitimacy
of any person or guardianship of a person or the custody or access
to any minor and suits or proceedings for maintenance.
The emphasis of the Family
Courts is on conciliation and achievement of socially desirable
results rather than adherence to rigid rules of procedure and
evidence adopted in ordinary civil proceedings. Advocates as a
matter of rule are not required for pleading of cases of the family
members in dispute. Reasonable efforts are made in the Family
Courts for amicable settlement of family disputes. Many of the
divorce disputes are settled amicably and reunion of the estranged
couple is effected happily.
The Family Courts function
under the administrative control and superintendence of the State
Government, Union Territory Administration and the High Court
concerned. Judges for the Family Courts are appointed by the State
Government with the concurrence of the High Court.
