10. Counseling.- a counselor appointed by the magistrate under section14 (1) shall possess the following qualifications and experience (a) An order for appointment of counselor under Section 14 (1) of the Act shall be made only after passing orders for interim relief under Section 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 or 23 of the Act. (b) The factors warranting counseling shall include the factor that the respondent shall furnish an undertaking that he would refrain from causing such domestic violence as complained by the complainant and in appropriate cases an undertaking that he will not try to meet, or communicate in any manner through letter or telephone, e mail or through any medium except in the counseling proceedings before the counselor. (c) The counselor shall as far as possible be a woman. (d) Possessing any of the following qualifications/experience:- (i) Any person who is related to anyone of the parties and not connected either directly or indirectly with the issue/dispute provided that both the aggrieved person and the respondent consent to appointment of such a person as a counselor; or (ii) At least 2 years experience of counseling in any Govt. or Non-Govt. organization; or (iii) Any legal practitioner having experience in handling cases relating to deprivation of women's rights or with at least 2 years experience with the legal services authorities constituted under Legal Service Authorities Act, 1987. (e) The protection officer shall assist the magistrate in the appointment of a counselor. | 