ORDER :

1. The petitioner seeks transfer of a proceeding on the allegation of bias against the Presiding Officer of the Family Court.

2. The respondents 1 and 2 in the transfer petition the wife and daughter of the petitioner have instituted O.P. No. 2364/2017 and M.C. No. 119/2016 before the Family Court, Ernakulam (in short ‘Court’) seeking a decree for return of money, gold ornaments and maintenance from the petitioner.

3. The petitioner asserts in the transfer petition that he has lost faith, trust and confidence in the Court because the Presiding Officer is prejudiced. The Presiding Officer is not ready to either hear the submissions or look into the precedents pointed out by his counsel. The petitioner apprehends that there will be no meritorious disposal of the cases. On 7.7.2021, when the counsel for the respondents insisted for a consideration of an application through the virtual court, the Presiding Officer directed the counsel and the parties to be present in the physical court on the same day at 1.00 p.m. Then the Presiding Officer pressurised the petitioner to pay the arrears of maintenance. When his counsel tried to oppose the direction, the Presiding Officer adjourned