Centre for setting up family courts in ‘failed’ states: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the Centre might step in to establish family courts in the country as many states have failed to discharge their legal obligation in this regard.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the Centre might step in to establish family courts in the country as many states have failed to discharge their legal obligation in this regard.

“Many state governments have so far failed to discharge their legal obligation in this regard. As a result many litigants, hailing mostly from socially and economically weaker sections of the society, have to travel long distance to seek redressal of the grievances,” Singh told a conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices here.

The Prime Minister said that since Family Courts Act is a social

welfare measure, the Centre has power under Article 247 to establish additional courts for better administration of laws made by Parliament.

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Singh made the remarks in response to a letter written to him by the Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan about the need for Central intervention due to the apathy shown by most of the state Governments.

The Family Courts Act 1984 mandates state Governments to establish family courts in urban areas with a population of over one million.

Singh emphasised the need for “liquidating” the largescale pendency of cases and asked the states to increase the number of judicial officers and upgrade the existing infrastructure.

“The Central government is prepared to work with state Governments and the courts to modernise the relevant infrastructure to computerise processes and systems and to provide alternative justice delivery systems that can help reduce the burden on the High Courts and the Supreme Court,” Singh said.