Take Initiative To Establish Family Court In Every District In Maharashtra: Bombay High Court To State

A division bench of Justice Anil K Menon and Justice Makarand S Karnik was hearing a PIL by a businessman Tushar Gupta, who claimed a severe dearth of family courts in the state despite the Family Courts Act stipulating one family court with a population of 10 lakh.

Gupta is a law student and claimed through his lawyer Meenaz Kakalia that according to RTI replies he received, over 5,000 divorce cases are pending in merely 7 family courts in Mumbai. Going by the 2011 census data, Mumbai alone needs at least six more courts.

Going by the 2011 census data of Maharashtra, despite a population of 11.24 crore there are only 19 family courts despite a requirement of 39 courts.

The government pleader for the state submitted that the Registrar General of the High Court could be added as a party to the petition as such courts are to be added only after consultation with the High Court administration.

On Thursday, the petitioners also submitted a chart disclosing the population and number of family courts. According to the chart, while Mumbai requires 6 family courts, Pimpri-Chinchwad requires at least three courts since it has none right now. Other places in the MMR region including Mira Bhayendar, Navi Mumbai and Bhiwandi are falling short of family courts.

"First step is taken by you (state). Give us land. We'll tell you how to build it (family court)," the bench orally remarked.