Section 21 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971: Nyaya Panchayats and Village Courts

Section 21 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 creates a specific exclusion for contempt of Nyaya Panchayats and other village courts established under law for the administration of justice.

What does Section 21 provide?

The heading of Section 21 is "Act not to apply to Nyaya Panchayats or other village courts." The provision states:

Section 21 - Act not to apply to Nyaya Panchayats or other village courts

Nothing contained in this Act shall apply in relation to contempt of Nyaya Panchayats or other village courts, by whatever name known, for the administration of justice, established under any law.

Meaning and scope of Section 21

Section 21 is an exclusion clause. It provides that the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 itself does not apply to contempt of a Nyaya Panchayat or another village court, irrespective of the local name used for that institution, where the body is established under law for the administration of justice.

The provision should therefore be read by identifying whether the institution concerned is a Nyaya Panchayat or other village court established under a law for administering justice. If it falls within that description, contempt of that institution is outside the application of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 under Section 21.

What is a Nyaya Panchayat or village court for this section?

Section 21 does not separately define the expression "Nyaya Panchayat." Instead, it uses a functional description covering Nyaya Panchayats and other village courts, "by whatever name known," that are established under a law for the administration of justice. The governing State or other applicable legislation establishing the local body must therefore be examined to determine its legal status and functions.

Relationship with the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971

The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 is Act No. 70 of 1971 and was enacted on 24 December 1971. Its purpose is to define and limit the powers of certain courts in punishing contempt and to regulate the related procedure. Section 21 marks an express statutory exception to the Act's application in relation to the specified village-level justice institutions.

Important: Section 21 states that the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 does not apply in relation to contempt of the covered Nyaya Panchayats or village courts. The provision should not be read, without examining the law establishing the particular institution, as a general statement that no other legal consequence can ever arise from conduct affecting such a body.

Official text and source

The current text of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 can be verified from the Government of India's India Code portal. The official Act records Act No. 70 of 1971, its enactment date of 24 December 1971, and the statutory text of Section 21.

India Code - Contempt of Courts Act, 1971
Official PDF - Contempt of Courts Act, 1971

Related provisions

For the surrounding statutory scheme, readers may also refer to Section 20 - Limitation for actions for contempt, Section 22 - Act to be in addition to, and not in derogation of, other laws relating to contempt, and Sections 23 and 24.

This page provides general legal information based on the statutory text. For a particular dispute, the legislation establishing the concerned Nyaya Panchayat or village court and the relevant judicial decisions should also be examined.