(1)The State Government shall in consultation with the High Court, determine and notify a Panel for specified district or area, of institutions, organizations and persons (preferably women where available) engaged or working in the field of social welfare and promoting welfare of the family to associate with or to assist the Family Court of each specified district or area. For such determination, names of suitable institutions, organizations and persons will be obtained from the Welfare Department of the State Government and also from concerned District Magistrate (s) who shall make recommendations in consultation with the concerned District Judges and Principal Judges. The notified Panel may be revised or modified any time by exclusion or inclusion of names by the State Government in consultation with the High Court which may, for this purpose, consider reports of the concerned Family Courts.(2)No person shall be appointed as counsellor below the age 30 Years.(3)The Court may appoint a Counsellor from the list of authorized persons notified under sub-rule (1).(4)Such counsellor may, if permitted by the Court in a particular, suit or proceedings, assist the Court as Welfare expert in discharge of its functions imposed by the Act.(5)The Court may assign any work to a Counsellor for assisting it in discharging its functions under the Act.(6)A Counsellor or a person associated under sub-rule (3) may be paid a sum of Rs. 750/- per case only as honorarium by the State Government, appropriate stage to be decided by the Principal Judge in his own wisdom but in any case before passing of the Judgment. Such honorarium shall be revisable from time to time and at least after every five years.
