Not enough judges for more Maha family courts needed: Justice

Justice Abhay Oka of the Bombay High Court said Maharashtra needed more family courts but there weren't enough candidates to fill up the post of judges in these courts.

He was speaking Sunday evening on the tenth anniversary of Thane Family Court in a function jointly organised by Thane District Courts Bar Association.

Maharashtra has 23 family courts presently and the need was to have more, Justice Oka said, adding that each district in the state should have one.

The HC had called for applications for the post of judges in family courts but there weren't enough candidates as there were vacancies, he told the gathering.

If we do not get sufficient number of judges, then it would be difficult to establish more family courts, he added.

He said, presently, district judges are asked to preside over family courts, a practice Justice Oka said was fit as per law but not proper.

In order to fully implement the concept of family courts, it was necessary to appoint special judges for them, Justice Oka stated.

He also informed that pre-litigation counselling centres would be set up in four districts of Maharashtra so that disputes among couples can be resolved before they reach the stage of litigation.

Approval has been accorded to construct a ten-storeyed court building in Thane, he added.