KOCHI: There has been an increase in the number of cases despite the increase in family courts in the state. According to the Central Department of Justice, 1.16 lakh cases are pending in Kerala. In 2022, with the allocation of new courts at Kunnamkulam, Neyyattinkara, Adoor, Punalur, Paravur, Aluva and North Paravur, the total number of family courts has become 35. They handle more than 100 cases daily.

A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice A Mohammed Mushtaq and Justice CS Dias had issued directions to dispose of the pending cases. The recommendations are to list the cases ready for settlement as soon as possible, mark all the cases related to a dispute together, and dispose of the cases in a timely manner.

No. 2 in number of the pending cases

Kerala ranks second in terms of pending cases in family courts. Uttar Pradesh tops the list with 3.90 lakh cases. In 2016-18, Kerala was ranked first. Efforts to speed up the disposal of cases by increasing the number of family courts are the reason why Kerala fell to the second position. The current setback is the increase in new cases and related petitions.

Family Courts: 35

Cases: 1.16 lakh

Settled in one year: 7186

Workload increasing

Family Courts are overburdened when they have to deal with many related petitions in each case. When the judgment is delayed, the parties file urgent petitions quoting different needs. The time taken to consider these will delay the disposal of the case.

'The government has been requested to allow four more family courts. Reorganization of jurisdiction at the village level is also under consideration to regularize the number of cases handled in each district"

-P.J. Vincent,

Registrar, District Judiciary, High Court

'Many of the people seeking divorce are the ones who got married within the past five years. Domestic violence is the main reason. Other reasons include extramarital affairs and suspicion."

-K.A. Jalil,

Former Ad. Advocate General