Section 13, Local Courts Act, 1963

(1) The Local Courts shall have jurisdiction— (a) to administer the estates of deceased persons, so far as they are situated within the jurisdiction of the Courts and the administration of which is governed by customary law; (b) to hear and determine— (i) all civil cases governed by customary law other than cases between Paramount Chiefs or Tribal Authorities involving a question of title to land; (ii) all civil cases governed by the general law where the claim, debt, duty or matter in dispute does not exceed two hundred pounds in value, whether on balance of account or otherwise, or in claims for recovery of possession where the annual rental value of the property does not exceed twenty-five pounds and the term of the lease does not exceed five years: Provided that the jurisdiction under this sub-paragraph shall not extend to any of the following cases— (aa) cases relating to the civil status of any person; (bb) cases relating to the administration or devolution of the estates of deceased persons; (cc) any case in which the Government, a company or a public officer acting in his official capacity is a party; (dd) any action founded upon libel, slander, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, seduction, or breach of promise of marriage; [Margin: handwritten: 777] (c) to hear and determine all criminal cases where the maximum punishment which may be imposed does not exceed a fine of fifty pounds or imprisonment for a period of six months or both such fine and such imprisonment. (2) The jurisdiction conferred by this section shall apply to all persons within the limits of the Court's jurisdiction and where there is no provision of customary law the general law shall apply. [Margin: Place of trial and transfer.] [Margin: handwritten: 77?]