Draft rules of the Family Court are now available for the wider legal fraternity to peruse and submit proposals and or comments to the office of the Chancellor.
In a notice published in the press on Thursday, acting Chancellor Carl Singh advised that limited draft rules of the court are now available. However, attorneys have to submit any suggestions and or proposals to his office by February 25.
Recently, the Family Court was an issue of contention between Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand and the Chancellor. The minister had accused the Rules Committee of the High Court, which the Chancellor heads, of dragging its feet in the start-up of the Family Court, months after construction of the court building was completed.
But the Chancellor denied the claims, while saying that even if the rules were to be approved, the court would not become functional. He said the minister needs to deal with the start-up problems facing the proposed court. “I can sign a Practice Direction as I am authorised at law to do and bring the Family Court into being as a division of the High Court with the stroke of a pen, but this still will not bring the Family Court into being,” he told this newspaper in an interview.
The Chancellor had said too that the rules were never formally transmitted to his office. However, the rules were later sent over for consideration by the Rules Committee.
Government has also said that it has funds available for the procurement of the furniture and equipment for the Family Court, but that it is awaiting approval of the rules by the Rules Committee of the High Court.
