Chapter II CONSTITUTION OF COURTS OF SMALL CAUSES

The State Government may, in consultation with the High Court, establish by notification a Court of Small Causes at any place and define the local limits of its jurisdiction.

When a Court of Small Causes has been established under section 3, the High Court shall by notification appoint a Civil Judge as a Judge of the Court: Provided that, in the City of Bangalore, the High Court may appoint a District Judge who shall be called the Chief Judge of the Court of Small Causes.

(1) The High Court may, by notification, appoint one or more Civil Judges as additional Judges of a Court of Small Causes. (2) The Additional Judge, so appointed, shall discharge such of the functions of the Judge as the Judge may, subject to the general or special orders of the High Court, assign to him and in the discharge of those functions he shall exercise the same powers as the Judge. (3) When the Judge is absent, the Additional Judge or if there are two or more Additional Judges, the Senior Additional Judge may discharge all or any of the functions of the Judge.

(1) The High Court may appoint to a Court of Small Causes an officer to be called the Registrar of the Court. (2) Where a Registrar is appointed, he shall be the chief ministerial officer of the Court. (3) The High Court may, by notification, confer upon a Registrar, if he is a person in the judicial service of the State, the jurisdiction of a Judge for the trial of suits of which the value does not exceed fifty rupees. (4) The Registrar shall try such suits cognizable by him as the Judge may, by general or special order, direct.

(1) The ministerial officers of a Court of Small Causes shall, in addition to any duties mentioned in this Act, or in any other law for the time being in force, as duties which are or may be imposed on any of them, discharge such duties of a ministerial nature as the Judge directs. (2) The High Court may make rules consistent with this Act, and with any other law for the time being in force, conferring and imposing on the ministerial officers of a Court of Small Causes such powers and duties as it thinks fit, and regulating the mode in which powers and duties so conferred and imposed are to be exercised and performed.