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Synopsis

Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain of the Delhi High Court recently directed the Principal Judge, Family Court, Dwarka to provide at least one computer with a printer to the Principal Counsellor/Counsellor for preparing the settlement or conciliation report.

The single-judge bench noted that presently, in other cases also that the settlement which is being sent by the Principal Counsellors/Counsellors assigned to the Family courts are either handwritten or, most of the time, filled in a computerised format

The court stated that these settlements recorded by Principal Counsellors/Counsellors are also illegible and appear to record a statement outside of the context of the actual settlement and added that this is extremely inconvenient for both the litigants and the Courts.

Court further added that the hard work done by Principal Counsellors/Counsellors during settlement efforts may not yield proper results due to a lack of computers and printers for recording/typing of settlements. Court also opined that Principal Counsellors/Counsellors being an integral part of Family Courts must be provided with computers and printers so that settlements reached before the Principal Counsellors/Counsellors can be recorded correctly.

On July 12, 2022, the single-judge directed the Principal Judge, Family Courts, Dwarka Headquarters, to inform about the services offered to the Principal Counsellor/Counsellor attached to the Family Courts for preparing/typing the Conciliation/Settlement report between the contested parties by submitting an appropriate report.

The report submitted by the Principal Judge stated that 22 Family Courts are open in New Delhi, and there are 26 Counsellors (13 Principal Counsellors and 13 Counsellors) have been assigned. It also stated that Computer systems are not provided to them for typing or preparing the Conciliation/Settlement Report.

Accordingly, the court ordered, “the Principal Judge, Family Court, Dwarka to take up the issue with the Principal District and Sessions Judge, (Headquarters) and Chairperson, Centralized Computer Committee or any other concerned committee for providing at least one computer along with printer in each district to the Principal Counsellor/Counsellor so that the settlement or conciliation report prepared by them can be typed on computer for the convenience of the court as well as of the convenience of the concerned parties.”

Court also directed the Principal Judge to submit a report on the same before the next date of hearing i.e. November 11, 2022.

Case Title: Yogesh and Ors. v. State Govt. of NCT of Delhi and Anr.