The first child-friendly Family Court in India was inaugurated in Kerela on Wednesday in Kozhikode district.

It is named as “Swapnakoodu” (nest of dreams). The new Kozhikode Family Court is a joint venture of the Calicut Judiciary and the Calicut Bar Association Committee, 2022.
The court was inaugurated by Principal District and Sessions judge S Krishnakumar at an event presided over by President of the Calicut Bar Association, advocate MS Saji.

A division bench of Justices A Muhamed Mustaque and CS Dias had called for a report from the Registrar (District Judiciary) about the possibility of having dedicated child-friendly rooms in all Family Courts.

“It is a known matter that most of the Family Courts are functioning in leased premises without adequate infrastructure and facilities. There is not even a waiting room for the children who are brought to the Courts for providing access, visitation rights and interim custody to their parents. In a few Family Courts, the children and the parties are seen standing in jam-packed corridors and even on the roads for the whole day. The congested Courts and the over-crowded premises, in fact, stares at the young minds, who develop negative notions regarding the justice delivery system in the Country”, the bench had said.

The Supreme Court had also emphasised the need for making Family Courts more child-friendly.

The new court premises have been designed with a view to reduce the stress and trauma experienced by children who are involved in custody and matrimonial matters.

The work of artists such as Sunil Ashokapuram and Nisha Ravindran have been displayed in the court.