Information with respect to the Family Court, Pala under Section 4(1)(b) of the Right to information Act, 2005

1. Organisation, functions and duties

Family court is a court of Equity convened to decide matters and make orders in relation to family law, such as custody of children. In common-law jurisdictions "family courts" are statutory creations primarily dealing with equitable matters devolved from a court of inherent jurisdiction, such as a superior court.

Territorial jurisdiction of Family Court, Pala is available in Appendix A.

Subordinate staff of this establishment consist of one Sheristadar, one Principal Counselor, one Junior Superintendent, one Confidential Assistant, three Senior Clerks, four Clerks, two Senior Grade Typists, one U.D Typist, one L.D Typist, two Amins, one Attender, four Process Servers, one Court Keeper, one Duffadar, one Driver, three Office Attendants, and one Part Time Sweeper.

2. The powers and duties of officers and employees

Procedural matters relating to Family Courts may be summed up as under: Family Court is deemed to be a 'Civil court' and has all the powers of a civil court. In every suit or proceeding, the Family Court may take the assistance of medical and welfare experts, in discharging its functions under the Act.

3. The procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability

In the judicial side, proceedings are channeled through Sheristadar → Court Fees/Inward Section Clerk → Bench Clerk → Judicial Officer. In the administrative side, files are channeled through Clerks → Sheristadar → Judicial Officer.

4. The norms set for the discharge of functions

The functions of these Courts are discharged in accordance with the various rules and regulations constituted for the purpose. Issues are dealt with on priority basis, expeditiously taking in to account, the various instructions issued from superior courts from time to time.

5. The rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records held or under the control or used by the employees for discharging the functions.

In Judicial functions of the Courts: Various Central and State Acts and Rules in Civil and Criminal matters.

In Administrative functions of the Courts:

 Manual of Office procedure  Service Rules Kerala State and Subordinate Service Rules  Kerala Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules  Special Rules for Kerala Last Grade Servants  Kerala Government Servants' Conduct Rules 6. Categories of documents that are held or under the control

 Documents and records pertaining to cases, pending and disposed  Documents and records of administrative matters

7. Particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with or representation by the members of the public in relation to the formulation of the policy or implementation there of.

There is no arrangement to solicit the views of the members of the public in relation to the formulation of policies or implementation there of.

8. Statement of Boards, Councils, Committees and other bodies An internal complaint committee has been constituted in terms of preventing prohibition and Redressal of sexual harassment of women employees at work place.

9. Directory of Officers and Employees Family Court, Pala : 04822-216044

10. Monthly remuneration received by Officers and employees

The monthly remuneration is likely to change depending on the grant of increments and variation in the dearness allowance sanctioned by the Government from time to time. The sanctioned strength and pay scales of the officers and employees of this establishment are furnished at Annexure-B.

11. Budget allocated to the Agencies, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and disbursement made

Statement of Budget allocated for the financial year 2018-2019 to this establishment is available in Annexure-C.

12. Manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including amounts allocated and details of beneficiaries of such programmes.

No subsidy programmes are executed by this establishment and no amount has been allocated for the same.

13. Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorisations granted

Not applicable

14. Information held by/available reduced in an electronic formulation

The history of cases from the date of filing till disposal have been reduced to electronic form and are available at the website. 15. Facilities available to citizens for obtaining information including the working hours of a library or reading room, in maintained for public use

 Public can directly access the Touch-Screen (E-Kiosk) facility or enquiry can be made at the counter for information on status of cases filed.  Public can access the search facility in the District Court website to avail information in cases pending/disposed  Information on other matters can be obtained from the public Information Officer as per provisions of the RTI Act, 2005.  No library is maintained for public use.

16. Name, Designation and other particulars of the appellate authority and public information officer

State Public Information Officer Appellate Authority Arunima Davis Regi G Nair Junior Superintendent, Sheristadar, Family Court, Pala Family Court, Pala Phone: 04822-216044 Phone: 04822-216044 Assistant Public Information Officer Lizy Francis, Senior Clerk, Family Court, Pala Phone: 04822-216044 Annexure-A Territorial Jurisdiction of the Family Court, Pala

Villages of Meenachil Taluk

Bharananganam  Elakkadu   Kadanadu Kanakkary  Kidangoor  Kondoor  Kuravilangadu Kurichithanam  Lalam  Meenachil  Melukavu Monippally  Moonnilavu  Nadubhagam Poonjar Thekkekara  Poonjar Vadakkekara Poovarany  Puliyannoor  Ramapuram  Thalappalam Theekoy   Vallichira   Vellilappally

Villages of Taluk

Cheruvally   Edakkunnam Elamkulam  Elikulam  North  Erumely South Kanjirappally  Koottickal  Koovappally Manimala  Mundakkayam

Villages of Changanacherry Taluk

Vazhoor  Vellavoor Annexure-B

Staff strength and scale of pay of the Judicial Officer and employees of the Family Court, Pala

Sl. Name of Post Strength Scale of Pay Special Special Allowance/ Medical No. Pay Sumptuary Allowance Allowance 1 Judge 1 51550-63070 2500 3100 1000 2 Sheristadar 1 40500-85000 3 Junior 1 30700-65400 Superintendent 4 Principal 1 39500-83000 Counselor 5 Confidential 1 25200-54000 Assistant Gr. II 6 Senior Clerks 3 25200-54000 200x1 7 Clerk 4 19000-43600 8 Senior Grade 2 26500-56700 120x1 Typist 9 U.D Typist 1 26500-56700 10 L.D. Typist 1 19000-43600 11 Amin 2 18000-41500 150x2 12 Attender 1 17500-39500 100x1 13 Process Server 4 17500-39500 150x4 100x4 14 Duffadar 1 17000-37500 320x1 100x1 15 Court Keeper 1 17000-37500 320x1 100x1 16 Office Attendant 3+1(SN) 16500-35700 320x4 100x4 17 Driver Gr.I 1 17000-37500 400x1 100x1 18 Part Time 1 9340-14800 Sweeper Annexure-C

Statement showing budget grant under various heads of account in respect of Family Court, Pala

Head of Account Description Detailed Head Budget Amount 2014-00-117-99-00-01-01-N-V Salaries Pay 4166000 2014-00-117-99-00-01-02-N-V Salaries DA 1104000 2014-00-117-99-00-01-03-N-V Salaries HRA 167000 2014-00-117-99-00-01-04-N-V Salaries Medical 13200 Reimbursement 2014-00-117-99-00-01-05-N-V Salaries Other Allowance 114000 2014-00-117-99-00-02-01-N-V Wages Pay 44000 2014-00-117-99-00-02-02-N-V Wages DA 8000 2014-00-117-99-00-02-05-N-V Wages Daily Wages 1000 2014-00-117-99-00-04-01-N-V Travel Expense Tour TA 68620 2014-00-117-99-00-05-02-N-V Office Expense Electricity 2417 2014-00-117-99-00-05-03-N-V Office Expense Telephone 28000 2014-00-117-99-00-05-04-N-V Office Expense Other Items 50828