What is mahila court?

Answer 1

Mahila courts are specialized courts set up to dispense justice to women. They speedily deal with and dispose off cases pertaining to women fighting legal battles following matrimonial discord. Mahila or women courts have been established as forums in which women, with or without their small children, seek quick relief in disputes for shelter and for financial assistance. Mahila courts are headed by experienced women judges and magistrates and the staff employed in such courts is also predominantly female. They are headed by a judge of the rank of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate cum Assistant Sessions Judge, who, too, is a woman. These courts deal exclusively with cases pertaining to offences against women such as cases relating to grant of maintenance under section 125 of Cr. PC, cases under sections 354 and 509 of I.P.C dealing with assault or criminal force and words or gestures intended to insult the modesty of a woman. At the Sessions level, Mahila Courts deal with the cases of kidnapping (Sec: 363 I.P.C), procuring minor girls for the purpose of prostitution, rape (Sec: 376 I.P.C.) and cruelty by husband or in-laws (Sec: 498-A I.P.C.). The Metropolitan Magistrates in these courts are assigned cases relating to molestation, rape kidnapping and also of domestic violence. These courts serve the purpose, with great sensitivity, of rendering justice in criminal matters pertaining to women victims.

The procedure followed in these courts is informal and comforting for women. They can shed their inhibitions and depose freely in the presence of women judges, who are more sensitized towards females and their inherent nature. These courts also provide a platform to women wherein they can negotiate their claims. Mahila courts ordinarily hold criminal trials but at times conciliation proceedings are also organized in order to preserve the family fabric. In Delhi the Delhi Legal Services Authority has commenced conciliation proceedings in all its District Court complexes with effect from August 26th 2007 and it is organized twice a month ever since.

The first Mahila Court was set up as an experiment in Andhra Pradesh in 1987. Its success encouraged the setting up of more such courts in Delhi as well as in all other parts of the country. In 1994 Mahila Courts headed by women judges were established in Delhi. Presently there are several Mahila Courts at Sessions level headed by Additional Sessions Judge and many more headed by Metropolitan Magistrates in all the District Court complexes of Delhi.

This Answer is taken from an e-lesson on legal literacy prepared by Dr. vageshwari Deswal.