Contempt of Court

A party wilfully disobeying an order of a court can be held in contempt of that court.

In India, under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 this is defined as ’civil contempt’. Any act that lowers the authority of the Court or interferes with the course of justice is defined as ’criminal contempt’. Each court has the power to punish anyone committing contempt of a court and in some cases the Court can issue suo motu notice of contempt. Under Article 129 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court is given the power to punish for contempt; under Article 215 of the Constitution the High Court is given similar powers.