Wed Feb 05 09:00:43 UTC 2025: ## Madras High Court Orders Family Courts to Ease Rigid Procedures, Prioritize Litigants’ Needs
**Chennai, February 5, 2025** – The Madras High Court has issued a strongly worded directive to family courts across Tamil Nadu, criticizing their rigid procedures and urging a more litigant-friendly approach. Justice V. Lakshminarayanan, in a landmark ruling, highlighted the significant inconvenience caused to the many litigants navigating the family court system.
The judge’s decision follows numerous complaints about overcrowding, inflexible attendance requirements, and restrictions on legal representation. With eight family courts in Chennai alone facing a daily influx of 800 to 1,500 litigants, the current system is deemed unsustainable and detrimental to those seeking resolution of family disputes.
Justice Lakshminarayanan emphasized that the Family Courts Act of 1984, intended to streamline proceedings, was being misinterpreted. While the Act doesn’t explicitly guarantee legal representation, the judge clarified that litigants should be permitted to engage lawyers to draft petitions and represent them in court, with the court’s permission.
The ruling specifically addresses the mandatory in-person attendance requirement for every hearing. Justice Lakshminarayanan deemed this “incongruent with the spirit of the Act” and ordered family courts to permit virtual appearances and a more liberal approach to power of attorney applications. The judge stressed that the courts exist to serve the litigants, not the other way around, acknowledging the various reasons—professional commitments, health issues, or travel—that may prevent litigants from attending every hearing.
The court’s intervention aims to alleviate the burden on litigants and ensure a more efficient and compassionate family court system. The new guidelines are expected to significantly improve the experience for those navigating already emotionally and financially challenging situations.
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