9. Duty of Family Court to make efforts for settlement.—(1) In every suit or proceeding,
endeavour shall be made by the Family Court in the first instance, where it is possible to do so consistent
with the nature and circumstances of the case, to assist and persuade the parties in arriving at a settlement
in respect of the subject-matter of the suit or proceeding and for this purpose a Family Court may, subject
to any rules made by the High Court, follow such procedure as it may deem fit.
(2) If, in any suit or proceeding, at any stage, it appears to the Family Court that there is a reasonable
possibility of a settlement between the parties, the Family Court may adjourn the proceedings for such
period as it thinks fit to enable attempts to be made to effect such a settlement.
(3) The power conferred by sub-section (2) shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other
power of the Family Court to adjourn the proceedings.
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10. Procedure generally.—(1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act and the rules, the
provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) and of any other law for the time being in
force shall apply to the suits and proceedings [other than the proceedings under Chapter IX of the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)] before a Family Court and for the purposes of the said provisions
of the Code, a Family Court shall be deemed to be a civil court and shall have all the powers of such
court.
(2) Subject to the other provisions of this Act and the rules, the provisions of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) or the rules made thereunder, shall apply to the proceedings under Chapter
IX of that Code before a Family Court.
(3) Nothing in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall prevent a Family Court from laying down its
own procedure with a view to arrive at a settlement in respect of the subject-matter of the suit or
proceedings or at the truth of the facts alleged by the one party and denied by the other.
11. Proceedings to be held in camera.—In every suit or proceedings to which this Act applies, the
proceedings may be held in camera if the Family Court so desires and shall be so held if either party so
desires.
12. Assistance of medical and welfare experts.—In every suit or proceedings, it shall be open to a
Family Court to secure the services of a medical expert or such person (preferably a woman where
available), whether related to the parties or not, including a person professionally engaged in promoting
the welfare of the family as the Court may think fit, for the purposes of assisting the Family Court in
discharging the functions imposed by this Act.
13. Right to legal representation.—Notwithstanding anything contained in any law, no party to a
suit or proceeding before a Family Court shall be entitled, as of right, to be represented by a legal
practitioner:
Provided that if the Family Court considers it necessary in the interest of justice, it may seek the
assistance of a legal expert as amicus curiae.
14. Application of Indian Evidence Act, 1872.—A Family Court may receive as evidence any
report, statement, documents, information or matter that may, in its opinion, assist it to deal effectually
with a dispute, whether or not the same would be otherwise relevant or admissible under the Indian
Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872).
15. Record of oral evidence.—In suits or proceedings before a Family Court, it shall not be
necessary to record the evidence of witnesses at length, but the Judge, as the examination of each witness
proceeds, shall, record or cause to be recorded, a memorandum of the substance of what the witness
deposes, and such memorandum shall be signed by the witness and the Judge and shall form part of the
record.
16. Evidence of formal character on affidavit.—(1) The evidence of any person where such
evidence is of a formal character, may be given by affidavit and may, subject to all just exceptions, be
read in evidence in any suit or proceeding before a Family Court.
(2) The Family Court may, if it thinks fit, and shall, on the application of any of the parties to the suit
or proceeding summon and examine any such person as to the facts contained in his affidavit.
17. Judgment.—Judgment of a Family Court shall contain a concise statement of the case, the point
for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for such decision.
18. Execution of decrees and orders.—(1) A decree or an order [other than an order under Chapter
IX of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)], passed by a Family Court shall have the same
force and effect as a decree or order of a civil court and shall be executed in the same manner as is
prescribed by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) for the execution of decrees and orders.
(2) An order passed by a Family Court under Chapter IX of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2
of 1974) shall be executed in the manner prescribed for the execution of such order by that Code.
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(3) A decree or order may be executed either by the Family Court which passed it or by the other
Family Court or ordinary civil court to which it is sent for execution.