MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said the government is exploring the option of introducing pre-marriage counselling as a measure to curb the rising number of divorces and marital disputes in the State.
At the same time, the government ruled out setting up additional family courts, citing that Goa’s population does not meet the criteria laid down by the High Court.
However, to address the growing backlog of matrimonial and domestic cases, the government plans to appoint 75 new judges.
Speaking in the Goa Legislative Assembly, Sawant disclosed that between January 2021 and July 2024, a total of 2,954 marriage and divorce-related petitions were filed in civil courts across the State.
In addition, 2,237 cases pertaining to child custody, domestic violence, and maintenance are currently pending.
The CM was responding to a query from Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar, who raised concern over the long delays in disposing of family-related cases.
He said that many such matters drag on for six to seven years, affecting re-marriages and the well-being of children.
“We are aware of the increasing number of matrimonial disputes and related cases. To tackle the backlog and ensure timely justice, the government will be appointing 75 more judges,” Sawant said.
Tuemkar had questioned whether the government was considering setting up additional family courts, given the rising trend of divorces and disputes and the stress they cause to affected couples.
Currently, Goa has a single family court based in North Goa.
Matrimonial cases are largely handled by senior division civil judges in district courts, while issues related to child custody, domestic violence and maintenance are dealt with by civil judges and judicial magistrates at the taluka level.
Earlier, Law Minister Alexio Sequeira explained that under existing guidelines, a family court can only be set up in a district with a minimum population of 10 lakh.
Goa’s total population is approximately 15 lakh, which disqualifies it from having a second family court under the current norms. “There is no provision for additional family courts unless the district population exceeds 1 million,” Sequeira said.
Meanwhile, Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral suggested the idea of setting up a counselling unit at sub-registrar offices to provide pre-marital counselling to couples at the time of marriage registration. “This could help reduce future disputes by promoting awareness and mutual understanding,” Cabral said.
The Law Minister responded positively, stating, “We will study the proposal and explore its feasibility.”
