WEST PAKISTAN FAMILY COURTS RULES, 1965

WEST PAKISTAN FAMILY COURTS RULES, 1965

[Gazette of West Pakistan, Extraordinary, 2nd November 1965]

No. Intg. 10‑31/64 (ii).‑In exercise of the powers conferred by section 26 of the West Pakistan Family Courts Act, 1964 (Act No. XXXV of 1964), the Governor of West Pakistan is pleased to make the following rules, namely :‑

1. These rules may be called the West Pakistan Family Courts Rules, 1965.

2. In these rules, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context :‑

(a) "Act" means the West Pakistan Family Courts Act, 1964 (Act XXXV of 1964);

(b) "Court" means the Family Court established under the West Pakistan Family Courts Act, XXXV of 1964;

(c) "form" means a form appended to these rules, and

(d) "section" means a section of the Act.

3. Subject to the provisions of rule 7, the Courts of the District Judge, the Additional District Judge, the Senior Civil Judge, the Civil Judge, First Class and the Civil Judge, First Class (Additional) shall be the Family Courts established for the purposes of the Act.

4.‑(1) A plaint under subsection (1) of section 7 shall be in writing, signed and verified by the plaintiff and shall be presented to the Court having jurisdiction under rule 5 of these Rules by the plaintiff or through a counsel, and where the plaintiff is a female, by her agent.

(2) The plaint under sub‑rule (1) shall also contain the following particulars ;.‑

(a) name of the Court in which the suit is brought and the facts showing that it has jurisdiction;

(b) the name, description and place of residence of the plaintiff;

(c) the name, description and place of residence of the defendant so far as can be ascertained;

(d) where the plaintiff or the defendant is a minor or a person of unsound mind a statement to that effect;,

(e) the facts constituting the cause of action and the place where and date when it arose; and

(f) the nature of the claim and valuation of the claim with particulars in brief and the relief claimed.

5. Where a plaint is presented to a Court not having jurisdiction‑

(a) the plaint shall be returned to be presented to the Court to which it should have been presented;

(b) the Court returning the plaint shall endorse thereon the date of its presentation to it and its return, the name of the party presenting it, and a brief statement of the reasons therefor.

6. The Court which shall have jurisdiction to try a suit will be that within the local limits of which‑

(a) the cause of action wholly or in part has arisen, or

(b) where the parties reside or last resided together:

Provided that in suits for dissolution of marriage or dower, the Court within the local limits of which the wife ordinarily resides shall also have jurisdiction.

7.‑(1) Suits relating to custody of children and guardianship shall be instituted, heard and tried by the Court of the District Judge, but such Court may transfer any such suit to the Court of the Additional District Judge, the Senior Civil Judge, the Civil Judge, First Class or the Civil Judge, First Class (Additional), having jurisdiction as provided in rule 6, and thereupon the Court to which such suit is so transferred shall have jurisdiction to hear and try the same.

(2) Suits relating to the custody of children and guardianship shall be instituted, heard and tried in the Court of the Senior Civil Judge, the Civil Judge, First Class or the Civil Judge, First Class (Additional), having jurisdiction as provided in rule 6, and where in any district there is no such Court, such suits shall be instituted in and heard and tried by the Court of the District Judge.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub‑rules (1) and (2), the Court of District Judge may‑

(a) recall any suit made over by it for trial under sub‑rule (1) to an Additional District Judge, Senior Civil Judge, Civil Judge, First Class or Civil Judge, First Class (Additional) and either try such suit himself or refer it for trial to any other Court within the District;

(b) send for the record and proceedings of any suit pending for trial in the Court of the Additional District Judge, Senior Civil Judge, Civil Judge, First Class or the Civil Judge, First Class (Additional) and hear and try the suit itself or refer it for trial to any other Court within the District, and thereupon the District judge or the. Court to which such suit is so transferred, as the case may be, shall have jurisdiction to hear and try the suit.

8. The Court of the District Judge may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, stay the proceedings of any suit pending in the Court of the Senior Civil Judge, Civil Judge, First Class or Civil Judge, First Class (Additional).

9. On transfer of a case from one Court to another it shall not be necessary to commence the proceedings before the succeeding Judge de novo unless the Judge for reasons to be recorded in writing directs otherwise.

10.‑(1) The Court may, where it deems fit, direct that the whole or any part of the proceedings under the Act be held in camera.

(2) Where both the parties to the suit request the Court to hold the proceedings in camera, the Court shall do so.

11. Where the parties agree to a compromise or conciliation effected between them under subsection (3) of section 10 or subsection (1) of section 12, the Court shall pass a decree or give decision in the suit in terms of the compromise or conciliation agreed to between the parties, as the case may be. .

12.‑(1) Where the plaintiff or his pleader, makes default in appearing before the Court, the suit may be dismissed in default.

(2) The Court may restore a suit dismissed in default on sufficient cause shown, on application made to it within thirty days of the dismissal in default.

13. Ex parte decree or proceedings may, for sufficient cause shown, be set aside by the Court on application made to it within thirty days of the passing of the decree or decision.

14. Every judgment or order shall be written by the presiding Judge or from the dictation of such Judge in the language of the Court, or in English and shall be dated and signed by the Judge in open Court at the time of pronouncing it.

(2) Judgments and orders which are appealable shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons in brief for the decision.

REGISTERS OF CASES, DECREES, ORDERS, ETC.

15. When a plaint has been filed, its particulars shall be entered in a register to be kept in the form prescribed for Civil Suits under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

16. In every suit, on passing the judgment, a decree shall be drawn up in Form I and shall be signed by the presiding Judge. The decree shall bear the seal of the Court.

17. The Court shall maintain a register of decrees and orders in the form prescribed for decrees and orders under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

18. Whenever any fine is paid under section 15 or section 16 or money or property is deposited with or realized by the Court under the Act or these rules, a receipt shall be given in Form II which shall be serially numbered and the counterfoil thereof shall be kept in the Court.

19. All fines, monies, or property deposited or realized and disbursed by the Court shall be entered in a register in Form III.

20. Where the Court receives any amount payable to a party it shall cause a notice thereof to be served on the' party entitled to receive it and shall pay it to the party concerned within four days, so far as may be of his applying therefor.

21. The records of the Court; including its registers, shall be preserved for such period as is provided under the rules of the High Court applicable to Civil Courts.

APPEALS

22.‑(1) An appeal under section 14 against the decree or decision passed by the Court shall be preferred to the High Court within thirty days of the passing of the decree or decision, excluding the time requisite for obtaining copies thereof;

Provided that the High Court may, for sufficient cause, extend the said period.

(2) The appeal shall be in writing, shall set out the grounds on which the appellant seeks to challenge the decree or decision, shall contain the names, description and addresses of the parties, and shall bear the signature of the appellant or his counsel.

(3) A certified copy of the decree and decision of the Court where a decree is passed, and a copy of the decision where only an order is passed shall be attached with the appeal.

(4) Any order passed by the High Court on appeal shall, as soon as may be, be communicated to the Court concerned and the Court shall modify or amend the decree or decision accordingly and shall also make necessary entries to that effect in the appropriate column of the register of decrees.

RECORDS AND THEIR INSPECTION

23.‑(1) The Court shall, on the application of any party to a dispute, allow inspection of the records of the Court relating to the dispute on payment of a fee of fifty paisa.

(2) On the application of any party to a suit, certified copies of the decree or decision or other proceedings or entry in any register maintained under these rules or of any portion thereof shall be supplied on payment of a fee calculated at the rate of 25 paisa for two hundred words or part thereof.

24.‑(1) There shall be kept in the office of every Court a seal of the Court which shall be circular in shape and shall have thereon the inscription `Family Court' and the name of the District.

(2) The seal of the Court shall be used on all summonses, orders, decrees, copies and other documents issued under the Act or these rules.