⚖️ CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971
📚 Section-wise Case Digest (Bare Act Mapping)
🔰 Section 2(b) – Civil Contempt
👉 Section 2(b) Contempt of Courts Act 1971
📌 Landmark Case:
👉 Ashok Paper Kamgar Union v. Dharam Godha
📚 (2003) 11 SCC 1
⚖️ Principle:
- Wilful disobedience જરૂરી છે
- Mere non-compliance ≠ contempt
🔰 Section 2(c) – Criminal Contempt
👉 Section 2(c) Contempt of Courts Act 1971
📌 Landmark Case:
👉 E.M.S. Namboodiripad v. T.N. Nambiar
📚 (1970) 2 SCC 325
⚖️ Principle:
- Scandalising judiciary = contempt
- Freedom of speech limited
🔰 Section 10 – Power of High Court
👉 Section 10 Contempt of Courts Act 1971
📌 Landmark Case:
👉 T. Sudhakar Prasad v. Govt. of Andhra Pradesh
📚 (2001) 1 SCC 516
⚖️ Principle:
- High Court subordinate courts માટે contempt લઈ શકે
🔰 Section 12 – Punishment
👉 Section 12 Contempt of Courts Act 1971
📌 Landmark Case:
👉 Supreme Court Bar Association v. Union of India
📚 (1998) 4 SCC 409
⚖️ Principle:
- Punishment power limited
- Advocate licence suspend કરી શકાતી નથી
🔰 Section 13 – Defences (Truth)
👉 Section 13 Contempt of Courts Act 1971
📌 Landmark Case:
👉 Indirect Tax Practitioners Association v. R.K. Jain
📚 (2010) 8 SCC 281
⚖️ Principle:
- Truth + public interest = valid defence
🔰 Section 14 – Contempt in face of Court
👉 Section 14 Contempt of Courts Act 1971
📌 Landmark Case:
👉 In Re: Vinay Chandra Mishra
📚 (1995) 2 SCC 584
⚖️ Principle:
- Court can act immediately
- Summary procedure allowed
🔰 Section 15 – Cognizance of Criminal Contempt
👉 Section 15 Contempt of Courts Act 1971
📌 Landmark Case:
👉 P.N. Duda v. P. Shiv Shankar
📚 (1988) 3 SCC 167
⚖️ Principle:
- Consent of AG required
- Exception: Suo motu action
🔰 Section 17 – Procedure
👉 Section 17 Contempt of Courts Act 1971
📌 Landmark Case:
👉 Delhi Judicial Service Association v. State of Gujarat
📚 (1991) 4 SCC 406
⚖️ Principle:
- Natural justice must be followed
- Notice + hearing mandatory
🔰 Section 19 – Appeal
👉 Section 19 Contempt of Courts Act 1971
📌 Landmark Case:
👉 Midnapore Peoples Cooperative Bank Ltd. v. Chunilal Nanda
📚 (2006) 5 SCC 399
⚖️ Principle:
- Appeal lies only against punishment
- Interim orders appealable નથી
🔰 Section 20 – Limitation
👉 Section 20 Contempt of Courts Act 1971
📌 Landmark Case:
👉 Pallav Sheth v. Custodian
📚 (2001) 7 SCC 549
⚖️ Principle:
- 1 year limitation mandatory
- Strict interpretation
⚖️ 🔑 CONSOLIDATED EXAM NOTES
✔️ Civil vs Criminal Contempt – Section 2
✔️ HC Power – Section 10
✔️ Punishment – Section 12
✔️ Truth Defence – Section 13
✔️ Procedure – Section 17
✔️ Appeal – Section 19
✔️ Limitation – Section 20
🧾 ONE PAGE REVISION LINE
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“Contempt law balances court authority, free speech, and fair trial through defined powers, procedure, and safeguards under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.”