A bill to alter the Family Courts Act was submitted in the Lok Sabha on Monday. It will create family courts in Himachal Pradesh starting on February 15, 2019, and in Nagaland beginning on September 12, 2008.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the bill.
The first week of the monsoon session is anticipated to see the passage of this law. It is known that the Business Advisory Committee has designated four members to discuss the measure.
The Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022, was introduced to address the problem of the States of Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland not having Family Courts.
The Family Courts Act of 1984 was passed to create family courts and ensure the swift resolution of conflicts involving marriage and family issues.
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Since the Act’s enactment on September 14, 1984, there have been 715 family courts created and operating in 26 states and union territories, including three in Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland, as of April 2022.
By way of notification on February 15, 2019, Himachal Pradesh created three family courts in Shimla, Dharamshala, and Mandi, while the Government of Nagaland established two family courts in Dimapur and Kohima by notification dated September 12, 2008, respectively.
The Central Government is yet to implement the same.
As required by Section 1(3) of the Family Courts Act, 1984, the government via notice in the Official Gazette.
By including a proviso in Section 1(3) that allows for the creation of Family Courts in Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland, the Amendment Act intends to alter the Act of 1984.
It also aims to include a new section 3A that would retroactively legitimize all decisions the two states’ Family Courts performed under the Act before the Family Courts (Amendment) Act of 2022 took effect.
Monday marked the start of Parliament’s monsoon session.
