Family courts are civil courts dedicated to children and family law matters, with looser procedural rules than other civil or criminal court systems and special intake procedures than other civil or criminal systems.
Shiv Sena MLAs Vilas Potnis, Sunil Shinde and Sachin Ahir addressed an issue concerning 5,000 divorce cases that remain pending in Mumbai with only seven family courts functioning to hear these matters. As promised by Deputy Chief Minister Jaideep Raneekari – 14 additional family courts would be opened throughout Mumbai city.
District and Sessions Courts
District and Sessions Courts in India are the highest courts at a district level, dealing with both civil and criminal cases. With jurisdiction over all subordinate courts within their district, these courts also exercise oversight for additional and assistant district judges as well as making decisions regarding work allocation among them. A District Judge serves as the highest judicial official within each jurisdiction.
Beed district lies in Maharashtra’s western region and boasts an estimated population of over 3.5 million people. Beed is well known as an important cotton and tobacco producer and boasts several beautiful temples. Additionally, this city serves as an important educational centre with numerous prestigious educational institutes and colleges located there.
Beed boasts an active economy and is the fourth-largest urban centre in Maharashtra. Its industrial sector is expanding quickly, while state authorities seek to attract foreign investment. Beed’s environment offers ample opportunity for development with rail and road networks providing connections from Akola, Dharang, and Beed talukas forming its structure; estimated GDP estimates total approximately Rs.62300 crore making this one of India’s fastest-growing districts.
Akola serves as the administrative hub of Beed District. This city hosts various important government offices as well as its vibrant textile industry, and boasts the Maharashtra Medical College and Hospital – an essential health care resource in this part of Maharashtra.
This city features an abundance of restaurants and coffee shops, in addition to parks and lakes that make it a top tourist attraction from across the nation.
City offers numerous museums and art galleries, such as the Bharatiya Janata Party Museum and Shrimantadi Temple. Theatre groups perform here frequently while its lively music scene draws crowds of enthusiasts from near and far. Renowned for its delectable cuisine – particularly thali and kadhi dishes – this city also houses arts and crafts workshops offering handloom weaving and pottery creation services as well as hosting numerous cultural festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Lakshmi Puja celebrations.
High Court
The High Court of Maharashtra is one of India’s oldest courts with original jurisdiction over Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. With regional benches at Nagpur and Aurangabad it plays an invaluable role in India’s judicial system; numerous judges from this court have been appointed to serve on both Supreme Court of India benches and are serving as Chief Justices today.
As of now, Maharashtra only has seven family courts that handle an estimated monthly average of 5,000 divorce cases. To reduce this figure further, 17 new family courts are in the pipeline across Mumbai in order to reduce pending divorce cases; Devendra Fadnavis announced this plan after Shiv Sena MLAs Vilas Potnis, Sunil Shinde, and Sachin Ahir expressed concerns regarding an increasing number of divorce cases within Mumbai city limits.
Family courts specialize in issues related to matrimony and divorce cases, such as divorces, annulments, restitution of conjugal rights, child custody disputes, dowry cases and maintenance claims. Their purpose is to encourage conciliation and expedite swift resolutions of such disputes; additionally these courts can hear civil matters such as restraining orders against abusive family members or orders for maintenance payments between spouses.
To expedite justice in Maharashtra, the Government has created numerous fast-track courts throughout the state. These are designed to speed up trials in serious criminal cases such as murder and rape. Furthermore, additional sessions courts have also been established specifically to handle such important matters.
Pune’s inaugural Family Court opened its doors for business in 2017 at its district and sessions court premises, near the government godown. It features a five-storeyed building housing alternate dispute resolution centers that are expected to resolve more than 8,500 cases monthly – prompting cabinet approval of replicating it in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Satara, Nashik and Nagpur as well.
Court of Session
The Court of Session is an appellate court that can hear criminal and important civil disputes, presided over by a Judge appointed by the High Court. Additionally, this superior court may appoint additional Sessions Judges and Assistant Sessions Judges; furthermore it hears appeals against decisions of Judicial Magistrate First Class and Chief Judicial Magistrate.
Maharashtra boasts 29 District and Sessions courts that operate under its judicial system, handling criminal, civil, and revenue cases respectively. If an appeal from their decisions arises then these higher courts would take over proceedings.
Family courts are an integral component of state judiciaries and provide assistance for divorce cases and matters pertaining to marriages, including matters such as separation agreements. Their purpose is to promote conciliation and facilitate speedy resolutions to disputes. As part of India’s vast legal infrastructure, family courts operate under the Family Courts Act (1984).
As per this act, state governments are required to establish Family Courts in cities or towns with over one million residents as well as creating counselling centres that include one. Counselors will receive fees and expenses according to state requirements.
Pune already has five family courts. Now, its state cabinet has approved plans to add five more with an aim to reduce pendency of divorce cases. Prior to this decision being approved by cabinet, Bombay High Court had criticised Pune government for failing to respond promptly when approached for information on setting up new family courts.
Civil Lines will soon see five family courts housed in a newly built building that will house them, scheduled to be completed by June 2022 and costing an estimated Rs 225 crore. There will be eight court halls at this new facility; whether or not these comprise part of these five family courts is unknown at this point.
The court will be presided over by the Chief Justice of Mumbai High Court and include a principal counsellor as well as other staff members. The counsellor can access court records to assist parties in resolving their disputes; furthermore they can provide information about institutions, organizations or agencies that may assist families.
Family Courts
Family courts are courts that are established specifically to facilitate fast legal resolution of marital and other family affairs disputes quickly and non-adversarially, promote reconciliation and provide non-adversarial dispute resolution methods. A seven-member bench serves as a resolution mechanism in such matters; hence this special type of court. Recently, Devendra Fadnavis of Mumbai state government announced 14 additional family courts will be added, which should help decrease pendency levels at these courts significantly and thus lower pending divorce cases significantly.
The state cabinet approved a proposal to establish four additional family courts in Pune city, in addition to its five operational ones. The Ministry has allocated Rs 4.5 crore in funds for this initiative; and these new family courts should become operational by Diwali. Lawyers and counsellors anticipate this will help resolve cases more rapidly.
As well as courtrooms, the new facilities feature ten counseling rooms, an auditorium, eight new resting rooms for judges on official duty, a cafeteria and ATMs; separate rooms for men and women advocates as well as a recreational room where children can spend their free time. Judges and staff will also receive security arrangements.
Family courts also feature counselling centres as a key feature, providing aid for cases and relieving mental harassment for parties involved. Counsellors will be present as much as possible at these facilities – or can even offer their services remotely if required.
Maharashtra Family Courts operate under the oversight of Bombay High Court and also take on appeals from district courts. Their duties also include maintaining a registry of family law cases filed in each district as well as overseeing implementation of orders from these courts.
