Family courts exist to facilitate the resolution of family matters efficiently. Equipped with counsellors and trained in conflict mediation techniques, these courts aim to resolve conflicts quickly through peaceful means.
Shiv Sena MLAs Vilas Potnis, Sunil Shinde, and Sachin Ahir have written to the deputy chief minister requesting additional family courts in Mumbai. They pointed out that over 5,000 divorce cases remain outstanding with only seven courts available to address them in Mumbai.
How many family courts are there in Maharashtra?
Maharashtra boasts 29 district and sessions courts that serve to adjudicate criminal and civil matters, including sessions divisions at taluka stations. If an appeal arises from these courts, it must be addressed through the Court of Session or High Court.
Family Courts of India form part of India’s judiciary and are charged with overseeing divorce cases and matters pertaining to marriages. Their goal is to encourage conciliation and facilitate swift resolution of conflicts; their judges are highly-qualified professionals with years of experience resolving them.
Devendra Fadnavis, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, made this announcement earlier this month in response to concerns expressed by Vilas Potnis, Sunil Shinde, and Sachin Ahir of Shiv Sena. They all raised issues regarding an increasing number of divorce cases within Mumbai city limits.
How many family courts are there in Mumbai?
The state government of Maharashtra is creating 14 new family courts across Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai; each court will help reduce case pendency while encouraging non-adversarial dispute resolution strategies.
Bombay High Court recently ordered details on pending cases at state family courts after hearing a Public Interest Litigation by a businessman seeking more family courts. His petition noted how divorce proceedings can be lengthy and stressful for couples, children and witnesses alike, suggesting ways that family courts could be improved such as encouraging prenuptial agreements and amending laws to make irretrievable breakdown a legal ground for divorce proceedings.
Amjad Sayed and Abhay Ahuja of the High Court bench asked the state government for information about how many family cases remain outstanding in Mumbai’s family courts, and under the Family Courts Act it must establish one in every city with populations exceeding one million.
How many family courts are there in Nagpur?
This court can also hear cases concerning civil restraining orders to protect family and household members from abuse, guardianships and custody disputes with minor children, guardianship orders against abusive family members and orders against spouses to pay maintenance payments.
Nagpur Family Court was established in 1970, with four courts each comprising of one principal judge and three additional judges; along with 78 staff members. At present, this court handles approximately 25 cases per day such as those for restoration of conjugal rights, mutual consent divorce, dowry disputes or execution of orders.
Recent rulings from the Bombay High Court had harshly criticised its state government’s approach in setting up family courts, saying correspondence on this matter “waste[d] away time”. To address this problem, Devendra Fadnavis announced that 17 new family courts will be set up across Mumbai in order to reduce pendency of divorce cases.
How many family courts are there in Pune?
Bombay High Court lashed out at the state government for their seemingly disinterested attitude towards setting up family courts in Mumbai. At an upcoming PIL hearing, its bench asked why there had been no progress when more than two months had gone by since cabinet approval had been given for family court establishment.
The state government has mandated that every city with over one million inhabitants establish at least one family court to facilitate swift resolution of marriage and family affairs disputes.
Pune, known as the Karmabhoomi of Mahatma Jyotira Phule who campaigned against women’s exploitation and suppression and Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak who championed self-rule as a fundamental right, has always produced great men and women from all fields. Additionally, many famous judges and lawyers hail from Pune; its courts have handled numerous divorce and matrimonial cases throughout its history.