Overview
At the foundation‑stone ceremony of the new Family Court Complex in Rohini, New Delhi, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant urged a visual and semantic shift in family justice. He suggested that judges and lawyers abandon the traditional black robes in Family Courts to prevent intimidation of children, and rename them as Family Resolution Centres.
Key Developments
- Judge and lawyer attire in family matters to be reconsidered, dropping the black robe.
- Proposal to rename Family Courts as ‘Family Resolution Centres’.
- Calls for faster disposal of family disputes and expansion of court infrastructure.
- Highlighting judges’ workload, infrastructural gaps, and the need for humane, emotion‑sensitive adjudication.
Important Facts
The event was attended by senior members of the judiciary, including Supreme Court judges and the Delhi High Court. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was also present.
Key judicial remarks:
- CJI Surya Kant warned that black robes create a “fear psychosis” in children.
- Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya stressed the need for speedy disposal and more courts.
- Justice Manmohan highlighted infrastructural deficiencies as a bottleneck to access to justice.
- Justice Sanjeev Narula cautioned against the hidden costs of heavy cause lists and long working hours on judges.
- Justice V. Kameswar Rao reiterated ongoing efforts to reduce delays.
Exam Relevance
The proposal touches upon several GS topics: