INDUSTRIAL COURT 31. The Industrial Court established under the Industrial Court Act, has exclusive civil and criminal jurisdiction to try any matter arising out of, inter alia, the Employment and Training Act, the Employment Rights Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Passenger Transport Industry (Buses) Retiring Benefits Act, the Sugar Industry Retiring Benefits Act and the Workmen’s Compensation Act as well as of any regulations made under those enactments, and with such other jurisdiction as may be conferred upon it by any other enactment. THE DISTRICT COURT 32. There are ten District Courts in Mauritius and one in Rodrigues. The District Courts have jurisdiction to try and determine both civil and criminal cases as provided for by the law. Each District Court is presided by a District Magistrate and by any such number of District Magistrates as may be decided by the Chief Justice. The District Court has jurisdiction to hear all civil cases where the claim or matter in dispute does not exceed Rs 250,000. The District Court has power and jurisdiction to hear and determine criminal cases punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years and a fine not exceeding Rs 100,000. 33. By virtue of the Protection from Domestic Violence Act, a Magistrate has jurisdiction to try any offence under this Act and may impose any penalty provided therein. District Magistrates may hear and determine applications in relation to Protection Orders, Occupation Orders and Tenancy Orders. 34. The Small Claims Procedure, provided for under the Courts Act, enables District Courts to adjudicate on minor claims not exceeding Rs 100,000 in an expeditious manner. Such claims are lodged by the litigants themselves after filling in a prescribed form which is served on the adverse parties. Both parties are convened before the Magistrate in Chambers to resolve the dispute. In the event there is no agreement between the parties, the matter is set down for trial. It is to be noted that such cases are disposed of by this method of conflict resolution rather than through a trial process. 35. Whenever a child is assessed to be in immediate danger, the District Magistrate is informed accordingly, application is made for an Emergency Protection Order (EPO) under the Child Protection Act, and, as soon as the order is issued, the child is sent to a “place of safety” which includes the shelter of the Ministry and other Residential Care Institutions for Children which work in collaboration with the Ministry. An EPO is also issued for the purpose of enquiries where officers cannot get access to the victim, and also for the purpose of medical examination after minor’s placement in a shelter. 12