Chapter II ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF COURT OF SMALL CAUSES.

The Government may,-

(1) establish a Court of Small Causes at any place in the area to which this Act extends and define the local limits of its jurisdiction;

(2) appoint a Judge for the Court of Small Causes and if necessary, appoint [Senior Civil Judge] or Judges;

(3) appoint the place or places at which the Court of such Judge or [Senior Civil Judge] or Judges shall be held:

Provided that no person shall be appointed as Judge unless he is in the opinion of Government qualified for appointment as a District Judge and no person shall be appointed as a [Senior Civil Judge] unless he is in the opinion of Government qualified either to be appointed as an Additional District Judge or as a [Senior Civil Judge];

(4) When a person is appointed as an [Senior Civil Judge] on the ground that in the opinion of Government, he is qualified for appointment as a District Judge, his pecuniary jurisdiction shall be the same as that of a Judge, Small Causes Court, and where a person is appointed as a [Senior Civil Judge] on the ground that he is qualified for appointment as a [Senior Civil Judge], his pecuniary jurisdiction shall extend to Rs. 4,000 and in either case at the time of his appointment or as soon as possible thereafter, the extent of pecuniary jurisdiction of the [Senior Civil Judge] concerned shall be notified in the Official Gazette.

(1) A [Senior Civil Judge] of a Court of Small Causes shall discharge such functions as may be assigned to him by the Judge of that Court and in the discharge of those functions, shall exercise the same powers as the Judge.

(2) The Judge of a Court of Small Causes may transfer to himself any case or proceedings pending before a [Senior Civil Judge].

(3) When the Judge is absent a [Senior Civil Judge] may exercise all the powers of the Judge.

(4) Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to authorise a [Senior Civil Judge] to exercise powers in excess of his pecuniary jurisdiction.