Indian Bare Act • Act No. 70 of 1971

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971

A section-wise guide to civil and criminal contempt of court in India, including statutory defences, punishment, procedure, appeals and limitation.

What is contempt of court?

The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 defines and regulates the law relating to contempt while preserving the constitutional contempt powers of the Supreme Court and High Courts. Section 2 distinguishes civil contempt from criminal contempt.

Civil contempt Wilful disobedience of a judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process of a court, or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court.
Criminal contempt Publication or other conduct falling within the statutory grounds in Section 2(c), including specified interference with judicial proceedings or administration of justice.

Section 1 - Short title and extent

(1) This Act may be called the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

(2) It extends to the whole of India.

Current legal position: the former proviso excluding the State of Jammu and Kashmir, except in relation to contempt of the Supreme Court, was omitted by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 with effect from 31 October 2019.

Key provisions at a glance

Sections 3-7Statutory protections for innocent publication, fair and accurate reporting, fair criticism and specified complaints/publications.
Section 12Provides the statutory punishment framework for contempt, subject to the Act and other applicable law.
Section 13A sentence should not be imposed unless the contempt substantially interferes, or tends substantially to interfere, with the due course of justice. Truth may be permitted as a defence when the statutory public-interest and bona-fide requirements are met.
Sections 14-18Set out procedure and cognizance provisions for contempt proceedings, including criminal contempt.
Section 19Provides the statutory right of appeal from specified High Court orders or decisions in exercise of contempt jurisdiction.
Section 20Provides a one-year limitation rule for initiation of contempt proceedings, subject to the law governing its application.

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 - Section-wise index

Rules for contempt proceedings in the Supreme Court

The Act authorises the Supreme Court and High Courts to make rules regarding contempt procedure. Proceedings before the Supreme Court are also governed by the applicable rules and the Court's constitutional jurisdiction. For current Supreme Court rules and procedural material, use the official resources listed in the right-hand panel.

Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of the Supreme Court, 1975

This page provides general legal information and a section-wise reference. Court procedure and maintainability may depend on the facts, the nature of contempt, the court involved and applicable rules.