Family courts balance efficiency and backlog amid rising disputes

Bengaluru: These cases take longer to conclude than others. Luckily, mediation helps resolve many of them, but several are still pending or continue to be registered,” said Kempamma, an advocate with seven years of experience in Bengaluru. Family courts are often more complex than other courts, dealing with highly sensitive and emotionally charged issues such as divorce, child custody, and maintenance.

Nonetheless, within the realm of family court proceedings, Karnataka distinguishes itself as a high-performing state, recording significant numbers of cases resolved, registered, and pending. As per data recorded on February 28, 2025, Karnataka disposed of 5,033 family court cases, accounting for 3.76% of the 1,33,634 cases resolved across India.

Despite this efficiency, the state continues to grapple with a backlog of 40,010 cases, representing 3.19% of the country’s 12,55,525 unresolved ones. These figures highlight both the commendable efficiency and the persistent challenge of managing backlogs within Karnataka’s family court system. “So many people approach the court with trivial issues that could be resolved through simple communication. This has led to an increase in the number of cases filed. However, many are set tled through mediation,” said K. C. Prabha, an advocate and conciliator with 19 years of experience in both civil and family court matters.

Mediation in family courts offers a constructive way to resolve disputes amicably, focusing on dialogue and mutual understanding. The process often results in quicker and more satisfactory outcomes for both parties. Most advocates recommend that clients attempt mediation before proceeding with prolonged court trials.

“There are too few judges and courts to manage such a massive volume of cases,” said Mumtha, an other advocate, speaking to News Trail. Agreeing with her, Adv. Prabha added, “Although judges handle several cases each day, the over all progress remains slow."