Family courts have the responsibility of first suggesting counseling sessions to any dissatisfied couples before proceeding with any cases pending for years.
To ensure efficient courts, judges should receive proper training. They should know how to settle disputes through mediation or counselling and ensure gender justice. In addition, they should have knowledge of various laws.
District Courts
Maharashtra boasts 29 district and sessions courts that are overseen by the Bombay High Court. Sessions divisions have been set up at Taluka stations to exercise jurisdiction of Court of Session in different districts, while civil matters with an expected value up to Rs 1 crore can be heard by Judicial Magistrate First Class before appealing back up the hierarchy until reaching Bombay High Court for final determination.
There are also city civil courts which serve as the entry level of state courts and deal with municipal ordinances and violations, and lawsuits filed by either plaintiffs or defendants are called lawsuits here. Furthermore, the government is working towards increasing family courts within Mumbai; soon their proposal to establish four additional family courts will be approved by Cabinet – with an aim of fostering reconciliation and speedy resolution of cases related to marriage and family affairs.
Small Causes Courts
The Court of Small Causes has jurisdiction to hear and decide civil suits with minor values quickly and summarily, and also accept appeals or revisions from decisions of District and Sessions courts. It was created under the Presidency Small Causes Court Act of 1882.
The Court of Small Causes acts as the controlling officer, with judges as its judges. Its drawing and disbursing officer is also known as Registrar; these three positions work hand-in-hand to administer justice on matters pertaining to Bombay Rents, Hotels, Lodgings and House Rates Control Act disputes regardless of any pecuniary value.
Family courts are special courts designed to foster reconciliation and prompt legal settlement of marital and related matters for Indian citizens. According to reports, the government plans on setting up 14 additional family courts in Mumbai so as to reduce pendency of cases, said one official.
Family Courts
Family courts specialize in domestic disputes such as divorce and child custody battles, civil restraining orders against spouse abuse and children abuse cases and provide civil support and financial aid as appropriate. They may also oversee requests for guardianship for adults or minors and provide financial support when necessary.
Under the Family Courts Act, state governments in consultation with High Courts are required to establish family courts in every city or town with populations greater than one million inhabitants, as well as other areas throughout their respective States if deemed necessary.
Additionally, a counselling centre associated with family courts may be established either within its premises or elsewhere as determined by the High Court. Such centres will be managed by a principal counsellor as well as several other counselors; additionally they may organize panels of expert medical and other practitioners that help assist the counsellors with discharging their duties effectively.
High Court
The Bombay High Court is one of India’s oldest High Courts, established in 1754. It covers jurisdiction over Maharashtra and Goa as well as Daman Diu Dadra Nagar Haveli Union Territories; regional branches can also be found in Nagpur and Aurangabad. Since independence 22 judges from this Court have been promoted/appointments made directly into the Supreme Court from this institution.
The High Court serves as the heart of each State’s judicial administration and comprises 25 High Courts across India, three with multi-State jurisdiction. Each High Court is headed by its Chief Justice and includes other Judges appointed by the President from time to time; additionally each High Court includes a Counselling Centre attached which houses different units run by principal counsellors chosen from amongst lawyers working in that Court.