Lok Sabha Question No. 2833 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-02
Subject: Family Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: GOWDAR MALLIKARJUNAPPA SIDDESHWARA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE (DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE)

## L O K    S A B H A UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2833

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 2 ND AUGUST, 2017

## Family Courts

## 2833. SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWARA:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) the present condition and role of family courts in dealing with increasing family/domestic violence in the country;
- (b) the  number  of  cases  disposed  of  by  these  courts  during  the  last  three years, State/Union Territory-wise;
- (c) the total number of family courts in the country, State/Union Territorywise;
- (d) whether there is any fixed time limit to dispose of cases related to domestic/family violence in these courts; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LAW & JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY)

(a): The  role  and  functions  of  Family  Courts  are governed by  the  Family Courts  Act,  1984.    Family  Courts  are  set  up  by  the  State  Governments  in consultation with the concerned High Courts from their own resources with a view  to  promote  conciliation  and  to  secure  speedy  settlement  of  family disputes.

(b) and (c): The number of cases disposed off by these Courts during the last three years and the total number of Family Courts in the country, State/Union Territory-wise is given at Annexure-I.

(d)&(e): No time limit has been fixed for disposal of cases as per the Family Courts Act, 1984.   However, as per Section 12(5) of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, the Magistrate shall endeavor to dispose of every  application  made  under  sub  Section  (1),  within  a  period  of  sixty  days from the date of its first hearing.

Disposal of cases is primarily the responsibility of the judiciary. In the Chief Ministers'/ Chief Justices' Conference, 2015 directions had been issued to  all  High  Courts  to  regularly  monitor  and  take  necessary  steps  for  early disposal of such cases. The  Government has  adopted a co-ordinated approach to  assist  judiciary  for  phased  liquidation  of  arrears  and  pendency  in  judicial systems,  which,  inter-alia,  involves  better  infrastructure  for  courts  including computerisation,  increase  in  strength  of  judicial  officers/judges,  policy  and legislative measures in the areas prone to excessive litigation and emphasis on human resource development.

****

## Annexure-I

Number of cases disposed off in Family Courts during the last three years and no. of Family Courts functional are as follows:

| S. No   | State                                       | Cases disposed of during the Year   | Cases disposed of during the Year   | Cases disposed of during the Year   | No. of FC functional   |
|---------|---------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|------------------------|
|         |                                             | 2014                                | 2015                                | 2016                                |                        |
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh                              |                                     | 6611                                | As on August 9, 2016                | 14                     |
| 2       | Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram | 3085                                | 4487                                | As on August 5, 2016                | 6                      |
| 3       | Bihar                                       | 13508                               | 13756                               | As on November 15, 2016             | 39                     |
| 4       | Chhattisgarh                                | 9198                                | 13019                               | 4984 as on August 22,2016           | 20                     |
| 5       | Delhi                                       | 11968                               | 20923                               | As on November, 2016                | 15                     |
| 6       | Goa                                         |                                     | -                                   | N.A.                                | -                      |
| 7       | Gujarat                                     | 15910                               | 18913                               | 8349 as on June 30,                 | 34                     |
| 8       | Haryana                                     | 9151                                | 11369                               | 2016 5589 as on June 30, 2016       | 9                      |
| 9       | Himachal Pradesh                            | N.A.                                | N.A.                                | N.A.                                | 0                      |
| 10      | Jammu & Kashmir                             | N.A.                                | N.A.                                | N.A.                                | 1                      |
| 11      | Jharkhand                                   | 8648                                | -                                   | As on August 2, 2016                | 21                     |
| 12      | Karnataka                                   | 16689                               | 16979                               | As on March 16, 2017                | 25                     |
| 13      | Kerala                                      | 47881                               | 48968                               | 24892 as on June 2016               | 28                     |
| 14      | Madhya Pradesh                              |                                     | 24417                               | 10797 as on June 30, 2016           | 50                     |
| 15      | Maharashtra                                 | 22812                               | 21906                               | As on August 3, 2016                | 25                     |
| 16      | Manipur                                     |                                     | N.A.                                | N.A.                                | 6                      |
| 17      | Meghalaya                                   |                                     | N.A.                                | N.A.                                | 0                      |
| 18      | Odisha                                      | 8926                                | 10015                               | As on November 25, 2016             | 24                     |
| 19      | Punjab                                      |                                     |                                     | 2192 as on June 30, 2016            | 5                      |
| 20      | Puducherry                                  | 616                                 | 361                                 | 105 as on July 31, 16               | 2                      |
| 21      | Rajasthan                                   | 35163                               | 51926                               | 10650 as on June 30, 2016           | 32                     |
| 22      | Sikkim                                      | N.A.                                | N.A.                                | N.A.                                | 4                      |
| 23      | Tamil Nadu                                  | 11991                               | 13754                               | 7709 as on June 30, 2016            | 20                     |
| 24      | Telangana                                   | 6599                                | 7715                                | As on August 09, 2016               | 12                     |
| 25      | Tripura                                     | 586                                 | 708                                 | 844 as on April 4, 2017             | 3                      |
| 26      | Uttar Pradesh                               | 113219                              | 132189                              | 41553 as on March 31, 2017          | 76                     |
| 27      | Uttarakhand                                 | 5710                                | 6585                                | 2637 as on May 31, 2016             | 9                      |
| 28      | West Bengal                                 | 283                                 | 410                                 | 344 as on October 31, 2016          | 2                      |
| Total:  | Total:                                      | Total:                              | Total:                              | Total:                              | 482                    |