Contempt Of Court Essay

“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”

― George Orwell

Contempt of court is defined as an act or omission calculated to interfere with the due administration of justice. In general meaning of contempt is willful disobedience to, or open disrespect of a court or a judge. It means lack of respect or reverence for something. Contempt of court is disobedience of the court by acting in opposition to authority, the justice and dignity thereof. It signifies a willful disregard or disobedience of the court’s order; it also signifies such conduct as tends to bring the authority of the court and the administration of justice into dispute . Contempt jurisdiction is inherent in a court of record from the very nature of court itself.

In common law jurisdictions; contempt of court has traditionally been classified as either in

It is generally felt that the existing law relating to contempt of Courts is somewhat uncertain undefined and also unsatisfactory. The jurisdiction to punish for contempt of court touches upon two fundamental rights of citizens namely, right to personal liberty and right to freedom of expression. It was hence, considered advisable to have the entire law on the subject scrutinized by a special committee. In pursuance of the same, a Committee was set up in 1961 under the Chairmanship of late Shri H.N. Sanayal the then Additional Solicitor General of India. The Committee made an extensive examination of the law and the problems relating to the contempt of Court in the light of the position obtained in our own country and various other foreign countries. The recommendations made by the Committee took a note of the importance given to the freedom of speech in the Constitution and the need for safeguarding the status and the dignity of Courts and the interests of administration of