Srinagar (NVI): In a first in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Justice of J&K High Court, Gita Mittal today inaugurated a Family Court at District Court Complex in Srinagar.
Addressing the inaugural function, the J&K HC Chief Justice observed that the objective of establishing the family court in the UT is to ensure speedy justice and inexpensive relief in family matters with least formalities.
She highlighted background about the history of establishing family courts across India and the enactment of Family Courts Act 1984 and its subsequent enactment in J&K after the promulgation of J&K Reorganization Act 2019. “It was a long journey for J&K to establish a family court, but I am confident that we were capable to make the family court a success in this region,” she reaffirmed.
Mittal added that it is not only to ensure speedy and inexpensive justice, but the parties involved in the matter would be having privacy in personal areas of dispute and difficulties relating to the family matters. She also thanked the Chairman Family Court Committee, High Court of J&K, Justice Tashi Rabstan for expeditious journey of setting up of the family court.
She also suggested that the with the court set up for such family matters, it is imperative for presiding officers to be committed to protect the institution of marriage and to promote settlement of dispute through reconciliation and counseling.
“With the establishment of family court, J&K made an effort to develop a sensitive system and processing of family matters expeditiously, at the first place. We recognize that the proceedings before family court are conciliatory and not adversary as ours is a land of diversified culture, local customs and various conventions,” she said.
She added that so far 1,100 cases have been recognised and transferred to Srinagar family court and such figures may increase as the process of identification of cases is underway.
She emphasised for urgency to establish family courts in every district, saying as soon as resources and man power is available, the process would be started so as to ensure expeditious justice in family court matters.
“We have already undertaken an exercise for which the committee is working on and is identifying space for the family court in Jammu and hopefully, we will shortly establish a family court in Jammu also as well as in other districts,” she added.
-ARK
