Duty of Court to make efforts for settlement
Full Text
(1) In every suit or proceeding to which this Order applies, an endeavour shall be made by the Court in the first instance, where it is possible to do so consistent with the nature and circumstances of the case, to assist the parties in arriving at a settlement in respect of the subject-matter of the suit.
(2) If, in any such suit or proceeding, at any stage it appears to the Court that there is a reasonable possibility of a settlement between the parties, the Court may adjourn the proceeding for such period as it thinks fit to enable attempts to be made to effect such a settlement.
(3) The power conferred by sub-rule (2) shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other power of the Court to adjourn the proceedings.
Plain English Summary
Imposes a mandatory statutory duty upon the court in all family proceedings to actively facilitate reconciliation and settlement in the first instance, empowering adjournments at any stage to enable mediation and ADR.
Key Legal Elements
- Mandatory Reconciliation Duty: 'Endeavour shall be made by the Court in the first instance'.
- Stage: At the very threshold before framing issues, and continuing at any subsequent stage.
- Adjournment for ADR: Power to adjourn specifically to enable settlement through mediation or Lok Adalat.
- Harmonious Construction: Read alongside Section 89 CPC and Section 9 of the Family Courts Act, 1984.
Practical Note
Supreme Court Landmark on Matrimonial Mediation: In K. Srinivas Rao v. D.A. Deepa (2013) 5 SCC 226, the Supreme Court held that in all matrimonial disputes, courts must make a genuine effort to bring about reconciliation under Order XXXII-A Rule 3 and Section 89 CPC. Referrals to mediation centers should be made at the inception of the suit before acrimony hardens through contentious pleadings.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) ऐसे प्रत्येक वाद या कार्यवाही में जिसको यह आदेश लागू होता है, न्यायालय द्वारा प्रथम दृष्टया, जहां मामले की प्रकृति और परिस्थितियों से सुसंगत रूप में ऐसा करना संभव हो, वाद की विषय-वस्तु की बाबत समझौते (Settlement/सुलह) पर पहुंचने में पक्षकारों की सहायता करने का प्रयास किया जाएगा (Endeavour shall be made)।
(2) यदि ऐसे किसी वाद या कार्यवाही में, किसी भी प्रक्रम पर न्यायालय को यह प्रतीत होता है कि पक्षकारों के बीच समझौते की युक्तियुक्त संभावना है, तो न्यायालय ऐसे समझौते को कराने के प्रयास किए जाने को समर्थ बनाने के लिए कार्यवाही को ऐसी अवधि के लिए स्थगित कर सकेगा जैसी वह ठीक समझे।
(3) उप-नियम (2) द्वारा प्रदत्त शक्ति कार्यवाहियों को स्थगित करने की न्यायालय की किसी अन्य शक्ति के अतिरिक्त होगी, न कि उसके अल्पीकरण में।