Contempt of Courts Act, 1971

The appellant L.K. Trust claimed that a concluded contract existed between it and EDC Ltd. for the sale of a mortgaged hotel property, arguing that the mortgagor (Falcon Retreat Pvt. Ltd., respondent No.3) had lost its statutory right of redemption under Section 60 of the Transfer of Property Act. The Supreme Court hel…

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo motu contempt petition filed by environmental activist M.C. Mehta, examined the failure of the Union of India, the NCT of Delhi and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to comply with its earlier orders directing the relocation or closure of non‑conforming industries operating in resident…

The State of Maharashtra appealed to the Supreme Court against a Bombay High Court order that dropped contempt proceedings initiated against respondents in a customs refund dispute. The respondents had filed a writ seeking refund of duty, which the Customs Department alleged was obtained on the basis of forged document…

The Urban Infrastructure Real Estate Fund (U.I.R.E.F) obtained an arbitral award of Rs 78.33 crore against Dharmesh S. Jain and others, which the Bombay High Court stayed on the condition that the respondents deposit 50% of the amount. The High Court’s order dated 08‑08‑2019 was later extended twice by the Supreme Cour…

Senior advocate V.C. Mishra, also Chairman of the Bar Council of India, was alleged to have shouted, threatened and insulted a judge of the Allahabad High Court during a hearing, prompting the judge to write a letter that led the Supreme Court to initiate suo motu contempt proceedings. Mishra contested the jurisdiction…

The Union of India filed a civil contempt petition alleging non‑compliance with directions given in a writ judgment against Subedar Devassy. The Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed the contempt proceeding, finding no contempt, but thereafter issued additional directions, which the Union challenged before the Supreme Co…

The Supreme Court examined a contempt petition filed by Rajeshwar Singh, an Assistant Director of the Enforcement Directorate, who alleged that respondents including Subrata Roy Sahara were intimidating him and attempting to derail the court‑monitored investigation into the 2G Spectrum scam. The petitioner invoked Arti…

The Allahabad High Court held that Government Advocates and Standing Counsel could not represent State officials in contempt of court proceedings and that any litigation costs must be borne personally by the officials. The State appealed, arguing that it could authorize its law officers to appear for officials in such …

The appellant Jaswant Singh and the respondent Virender Singh contested the 1991 Haryana Legislative Assembly election, with the respondent declared elected. The appellant filed an election petition under Sections 81 and 83 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 alleging irregularities, tampering of vote counts …

The Supreme Court dealt with a contempt petition filed by the Seth Group against the Mittal Group arising from a joint‑venture dispute over land development, license renewal and EDC liabilities. Both parties had executed a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) on 4 May 2015, which the Court incorporated into its order disposi…

The Kerala High Court convicted advocate K.A. Mohd. Ali of criminal contempt on two occasions under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. Despite the convictions, he continued to appear before courts, prompting the Kerala State Bar Council to bar him from pleading until he "purged" the contempt, invoking Rule…

An advocate filed a writ petition under Article 32, styled as a public interest litigation, alleging that the Supreme Court judges were influenced by Western law, had become a constitutional liability, and were sleeping on important issues. The petition used unsavoury language and appeared designed to denigrate the Cou…

The Supreme Court dismissed the respondent's Special Leave Petitions and granted the landlord nine months to obtain vacant possession of the premises, subject to an undertaking. The respondent failed to file the undertaking on time, filed multiple review and extension applications, and deliberately avoided personal app…

The petitioners, directors of Parul Polymers Pvt. Ltd., obtained a conditional stay from the Delhi High Court on 8 April 2015, undertaking to deposit Rs 7 crore in three instalments by 30 June 2015. They later issued post‑dated cheques dated 6 May 2015, which bounced on 8 May 2015, and subsequently evaded court appeara…

The appellant, a Tehsildar, was ordered by the Andhra Pradesh High Court to consider representations for regularising houses on government land and to maintain the status quo pending a decision. Despite the orders, he led a police force to demolish structures and evict families, beating women and children. The High Cou…

The Wikimedia Foundation, as a defendant in a defamation suit filed by ANI Media, appealed a High Court order directing it to delete Wikipedia pages and discussion threads that commented on the court's proceedings, alleging that the order violated its freedom of speech and the sub judice principle. The High Court had h…

Meenal Bhargava and Naveen Sharma, a married couple, lived in the US/Canada and had a child, Pranav. The husband obtained a Canadian court order granting him custody and directing the child’s return, which the wife ignored and brought the child to India, prompting the husband to file a habeas corpus petition in the Raj…

The Supreme Court suo motu initiated contempt proceedings against Justice C.S. Karnan of the Madras High Court for repeatedly issuing letters and orders that alleged corruption and caste-based discrimination against numerous judges, including Supreme Court judges, and for publicly scandalising the judiciary. The Court …

Advocates O.P. Sharma and others verbally abused and threatened a Judicial Magistrate in a Faridabad court, using filthy language and slogans. The High Court, acting suo motu, convicted them of criminal contempt under s.2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and sentenced them to simple imprisonment and fine. The adv…

The Hailakandi Bar Association filed a writ petition under Article 32 alleging that Superintendent of Police A.K. Sinha Cashyap submitted a false report and affidavit to the Supreme Court to conceal police brutality that led to the death of under‑trial prisoner Nurul Haque. The Court examined the CBI investigation, med…

Manoj H. Mishra, a tradesman and union leader at Kakrapar Atomic Power Project, wrote a letter to a newspaper describing a flood‑induced accident and alleging corruption. He was charged with unauthorised communication to the press, criticism of project management and breach of confidentiality, and admitted all charges …

The All Bengal Excise Licensees Association obtained an interim injunction from the Calcutta High Court prohibiting the State Excise authorities from holding any lottery for the final selection of excise shop licences without the Court's leave. Despite being fully aware of the order, the respondents – senior government…

Sheela Rani was engaged as a casual worker on 17 November 1982 to note complaints in an enquiry office. She sought regularisation of her post with retrospective effect from that date, invoking directions of the Administrative Tribunal. The Tribunal ordered her regularisation retrospectively, but the Delhi High Court di…

The petitioner highlighted severe pollution of the Gomti River caused by several industries, including Mohan Meakins Breweries, and the Supreme Court ordered on 15 January 1993 that these units must rectify deficiencies in their effluent treatment plants by 21 March 1993 or cease operations. Mohan Meakins failed to com…

The respondents challenged the acquisition of their land under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The Punjab & Haryana High Court ordered the state officials (appellants) to furnish names of landowners whose lands were released without filing objections under Section 5A. The appellants mistakenly supplied information abou…

The appellant, Dipak Kumar Mukherjee, challenged the illegal construction of a multi‑storeyed building by respondent No.7 (a construction company) that exceeded the two‑storey plan sanctioned under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. Despite a stop‑work notice and a demolition order passed by the Mayor‑in‑Coun…

The Rajasthan High Court had issued an interim order on 22 March 2001 staying the implementation of a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal award in favour of United India Insurance. The order was not complied with. Dinesh Kumar Gupta joined the High Court registry as Deputy Registrar (Judicial) only in January 2005, four yea…

The appellants, temporary pump operators transferred to the Calcutta Municipal Corporation, claimed they should be appointed as Fitter Drivers rather than the lower post of Turn Cock. A Single Judge of the Calcutta High Court, in a writ order dated 8 January 1992, directed that they be treated as Fitter Drivers and tha…

The Supreme Court sentenced a State Government officer, J. Vasudevan, to one month’s simple imprisonment for wilful disobedience of its order. The officer applied for remission of the sentence invoking the Court’s mercy jurisdiction, while a colleague had approached one of the judges to seek mercy for Vasudevan, an act…

The respondent, Aswini Kumar Baliarsingh, was appointed as an Assistant Teacher but the Inspector of Schools initially refused to approve the appointment. A writ petition before the High Court on 3 September 1997 directed the Inspector to approve the appointment, which was carried out on 19 February 1999. The responden…

The appellants, Priya Gupta and Akanksha Adile, were admitted to the MBBS programme at Government Medical College, Jagdalpur on 30 September 2006 through a hurried process that ignored higher‑ranking candidates, allegedly due to favouritism (the father of the second appellant was the Director of Medical Education). The…

The petitioners, clerk‑cum‑cash collectors, sought promotion and financial benefits under a 1984 Government Order, arguing that they performed duties similar to lower‑division clerks. The Calcutta High Court, in a contempt proceeding, held that the respondents had not complied with its earlier judgment and, beyond that…

Amrit Nahata filed a writ petition challenging sections of the Cinematograph Act and Censorship Rules and seeking certification of his film ‘Kissa Kursee Ka’. The Supreme Court ordered the film’s negatives and prints to be preserved and screened before five judges, but the film was not made available. The Solicitor Gen…

In a communal violence case in Gujarat, the trial court acquitted the accused after several witnesses, including Zahira Habibullah Sheikh, turned hostile. Zahira later alleged intimidation and coercion before various bodies, prompting the Supreme Court to order a retrial in Maharashtra. During the retrial she publicly …

The petitioners, laboratory assistants appointed in non‑government colleges in West Bengal, were treated as non‑teaching staff despite performing teaching functions and were denied the pay scale of physical instructors. After a series of writ petitions, the Supreme Court ordered that they be treated as teaching staff a…

The appellant, a Metropolitan Magistrate, complained that a Delhi High Court judgment contained disparaging observations against her, which later entered her confidential annual records and threatened her career. She sought expungement of those remarks under Article 136 of the Constitution, arguing they were irrelevant…

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) held an auction for a commercial plot in 1980, and Skipper Construction was the highest bidder at Rs. 9.82 crores. Skipper deposited 25% but delayed the balance payment, leading to an agreement in 1987 for instalment payments. Skipper continued to delay and filed a writ petition in…

E. Bapanaiah, a depositor, filed a contempt petition against K.S. Raju, promoter director of Nagarjuna Finance Ltd., alleging wilful breach of an undertaking given to the Company Law Board (CLB) to repay deposits. The High Court division bench set aside the conviction and sentence imposed by a single judge, finding Raj…

The Supreme Court granted the petitioner absolute interim anticipatory bail on 8 December 2023, ordering his release on bail if arrested. Despite this, the police remanded him to custody on 13 December 2023, and the magistrate failed to release him after the remand period, resulting in an illegal detention of about 48 …

The Bihar State Government Sec. SCL. Teachers Association, representing BSES teachers, sought enforcement of a Supreme Court‑mandated merger of the Bihar Subordinate Education Service (BSES) with the Bihar Education Service (BES). Although the Court had restored the 2006 merger resolution and quashed a 2007 notificatio…

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) had been directed by the Supreme Court in 2011 to identify regular practitioners for voting rights under the "One Bar One Vote" principle. While the Implementation Committee was carrying out this task, the SCBA held a General Body Meeting on 16 January 2012 that passed resolutio…

The Supreme Court examined the implementation of the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) scheme introduced under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. While earlier judgments upheld the Central Government's power to issue the scheme, many states failed to comply, either by delaying tende…

The A.I. Regional Rural Bank Officers Federation filed a contempt petition alleging that the Government of India's 11‑April‑2001 notification on pay scales for Regional Rural Bank (RRB) employees contravened the Supreme Court’s earlier judgment in Civil Appeal No. 2218/1999. The notification granted parity of pay with …

The Supreme Court examined the persistent failure of several State Governments and Union Territories to implement the High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) scheme mandated under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The petitioners sought enforcement of the statutory provisions and earlier Supreme Court directions, while th…

The Bombay Environmental Action Group appealed to the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court’s order closing contempt proceedings against builders who were constructing a building on plot No. 57. The High Court had held that the construction did not violate its earlier interim injunction dated 23‑03‑1992, which wa…

The widow Nirmaljit Kaur filed a writ petition under Article 32 seeking production of her minor daughter, alleging that the husband's siblings forcibly took the child after his death and concealed her whereabouts. The respondents claimed the child had lived with them since birth and produced a passport, later asserting…

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) ordered a fresh seniority list on 3 November 1999 without fixing a time‑limit for compliance. The Director of Education complied on 27 October 2000, while the order was simultaneously challenged before the Delhi High Court under Article 226. Despite the compliance and the pendi…

Special Leave Petitions were filed against interim orders of the Madras High Court. On 14 January 1994 the Supreme Court ordered the parties to approach the High Court for an early disposal of the matter and to inform the Supreme Court of the result, expressing confidence that the High Court would give due attention. T…

The Gujarat High Court recorded an undertaking, made by counsel on behalf of the respondents, that certain property would not be sold until the main petition was decided. Despite this, the appellants executed multiple sale deeds in favour of various purchasers, breaching the undertaking. The High Court held the appella…

The State of Kerala filed a contempt petition against M.S. Mani and others for publishing a newspaper column that allegedly scandalised senior advocates and undermined the dignity of the Supreme Court. The petition was filed on 17 May 1999, but the required prior written consent of the Attorney General/Solicitor Genera…

The State of West Bengal and others directed the appellant to grant registration and subsidy under the West Bengal Cinemas Development Scheme, a direction issued by a single High Court judge under Article 226. While the appeal against that direction was pending, contempt proceedings were initiated against the appellant…

The appellant, a landlord, obtained a decree of eviction against B.R. Cotton Mills Ltd. (respondent No.1) but the High Court granted the tenant eight weeks to vacate subject to an undertaking not to part with possession. Respondent No.1, through its director, filed the undertaking without stating that it was in possess…

The Supreme Court, hearing a suo‑motu criminal contempt petition, examined statements made by writer Arundhati Roy in an affidavit that alleged the Court was acting with bias, silencing dissent and damaging its reputation. The Court held that such statements scandalised the authority of the Supreme Court and amounted t…

The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD Board) occupied land in 1991 and was directed by the Madras High Court to ensure "fair and reasonable" compensation to the landowner. The District Collector fixed the land value at Rs 200 per sq ft (based on the 2012 guideline) and the Board paid the amount, which th…

The Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Share Holders Welfare Association (appellant) sought to restrain the election of directors at the bank's 83rd, 84th and 85th Annual General Meetings, alleging that the meetings violated a 26 July 2006 injunction that allowed only certain agenda items to be considered. After the High Court a…

The Municipal Corporation of Jabalpur appointed a large number of daily‑wage workers without following the recruitment rules prescribed under the Madhya Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act. Several labour disputes arose and the High Court, exercising contempt jurisdiction, directed the corporation to prepare a gradation …

Advocate Ajay Kumar Pandey filed petitions and letters containing intemperate, insulting language against two Supreme Court judges, demanded apologies and compensation, and threatened to prosecute them, also filing a criminal complaint in a magistrate's court. The Supreme Court, after giving him opportunities to delete…

The Supreme Court, hearing a public‑interest writ under Article 32, directed the Union of India to fill the vacancies in the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission within three weeks, later extending the deadline to 7 July 1990. The Union, represented by Secretary A.N. Verma, failed to appoint a Chairman…

The appellant, R.S. Sehrawat, a junior engineer of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, was convicted by the Delhi High Court for contempt of court for allegedly filing a false affidavit concerning the demolition of unauthorised structures in Sainik Farms. He appealed to the Supreme Court under Section 19(1)(b) of the C…

The petitioner, a practising advocate, filed a public‑interest writ under Article 32 seeking to restrain the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, the Bombay Bar Association and the Advocates' Association of Western India from pressuring the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Justice A.M. Bhattacharjee, to resign an…

Advocate Mahipal Singh Rana threatened a civil judge in Etah on two occasions, leading the Allahabad High Court to convict him of criminal contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and impose two months' imprisonment, a fine, and a ban on appearing in Etah courts until he purged the contempt. The High Court also …

The case involved a claim for compensation under Section 166 of the Motor Vehicles Act after the death of Nanag Ram, a 36‑year‑old machine operator, in a road accident. The claimants sought Rs.24 lakh, while the insurer challenged the award on several grounds. The Supreme Court examined whether the High Court should ha…

Vijay Singh Sengar filed a public interest writ petition alleging that power cuts in Madhya Pradesh were endangering patients in government hospitals and disrupting street lighting. The Madhya Pradesh High Court issued interim orders directing the State Electricity Board to provide round‑the‑clock electricity to hospit…

Anil Panjwani, the plaintiff in a civil suit for possession, filed affidavits containing reckless allegations against the presiding Supreme Court judge, leading to contempt proceedings under Section 14 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. The Court initially ordered his detention, but he later expressed remorse and sou…

The National Textile Workers' Union filed a contempt petition against journalist P.M. Kumaraswamy (alias Kailaimannan) for publishing articles alleging corruption by four Madras High Court judges. The Supreme Court directed him to tender a written apology to the Court and the judges and to publish it on the front pages…

The Bihar Finance Service H.C. Cooperative Society Ltd. sought land acquisition for housing its members, leading to a declaration and award under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The High Court quashed the declaration and remitted the matter for further inquiry, but the Supreme Court later directed the High Court to rel…

The petitioners, Ajayinder Sangwan and others, filed a contempt petition under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, alleging that the Bar Council of India (BCI) willfully disobeyed Supreme Court orders dated 14 December 2017, 23 August 2017 and 24 November 2017 concerning the election schedule for State Bar Councils. The …

The Supreme Court heard a contempt petition filed by I. Manilal Singh, Secretary of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, who alleged that Dr. H. Borobabu Singh, the Speaker of the Assembly, had ordered his compulsory retirement as retaliation for implementing the Court’s earlier orders quashing the disqualification of cer…

A complaint was lodged before the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Commission against a computer training institute for admitting students to unrecognised courses and for publishing misleading advertisements. The Commission issued an interim injunction and, after the institute’s service advisor (the ap…

Advocate K.A. Mohammed Ali was convicted by the Kerala High Court under Section 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 for raising his voice, using derogatory language against a magistrate, publishing posters and staging a demonstration. The High Court imposed a fine of Rs. 2,000 and ordered the advocate to pay Rs. 5,0…

In a Gram Panchayat election, the second respondent was declared Sarpanch. The first respondent filed an election petition before the Sub‑Divisional Officer (the Specified Officer), who ordered a recount and dismissed the petition based on that recount. The High Court held that the Specified Officer lacked jurisdiction…

D.N. Taneja filed a criminal contempt petition against Bhajan Lal, alleging that the latter used his position to intimidate a forest officer and interfere with a writ petition. The Punjab & Haryana High Court Single Judge dismissed the contempt application, holding that the case was not fit for the court to exercise it…

The appellants, originally defendants in a suit concerning a Joint Development Agreement, gave an undertaking through their counsel in 2007 not to alienate the subject property, which the trial court later incorporated into a court order. In 2011 the plaintiffs filed an application under Order XXXIX Rule 2A alleging br…

The appellants, editors of a newspaper, were prosecuted for contempt after publishing material alleged to scandalise the administration of justice. The contempt petition was filed by the Assistant Charity Commissioner, who was a serving civil judge appointed under Section 5 of the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. The app…

The respondents, contract Radio Operators of ONGC, were ordered by the Madras High Court in 2006 to be absorbed as Marine Assistant Radio Operators or, if no posts were available, to receive pay parity. The corporation complied with the pay‑parity direction but did not create supernumerary Marine Assistant Radio Operat…

The Ludhiana Improvement Trust acquired 8.4 acres of land owned jointly by five respondents and framed the 1964 Land Disposal Rules, which allowed only one plot per local displaced person. The respondents claimed that each joint khata holder was entitled to a separate plot, relying on a letter dated 19‑Aug‑1994 from th…

The State Government of Uttar Pradesh transferred two Assistant Engineers, which was challenged by the second respondent. The Allahabad High Court dismissed the challenge and later, after President's rule, stayed the transfer and issued fresh orders. The High Court then directed the Engineer‑in‑Chief (appellant) to app…

The petitioners, Major Genl. B.M. Bhatiacharjee (Retd.) and another, alleged that Russel Estate Corporation and its managing partner had allotted two flats on the 8th floor to third parties in violation of a Supreme Court order dated 1 August 1991 which prohibited any further allotment of flats. The respondents contend…

The Supreme Court heard contempt petitions filed by Assistant Conservators of Forest (direct recruits and promotees) who alleged that the Uttar Pradesh Government had violated the Court's earlier directions in Keshav Chander Joshi v. Union of India regarding the fixation of inter se seniority. The petitioners contended…

Perry Kansagra, a father, obtained custody of his son Aditya through a series of Indian court orders, including a Supreme Court judgment directing him to secure a "mirror order" from the Kenyan court. He subsequently failed to obtain a valid mirror order, concealed the Kenyan court's refusal to register the Indian judg…

The appellants were convicted for the murder of Pyara Singh, who died after being assaulted with lathis by four accused. The trial hinged on the testimony of three eye‑witnesses, including the victim's son and wife, while the post‑mortem report prepared by the government medical officer (PW3) claimed no injuries and fa…

The Supreme Court, in response to numerous applications seeking clarification or modification of its 27 April 2012 judgment, reaffirmed that Rule 100 of the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 bars the use of any black film or other material on safety glasses, windscreens or side glasses of vehicles, regardless of the visual li…

The State of Maharashtra introduced a CPED course, but a private institution, Lokmata Indira Gandhi College of Sports, admitted students without permission for the 1994-95 session. After several writ petitions were dismissed, a forged Supreme Court order dated 28 August 1998 was allegedly sent to the State, directing i…

The Allahabad High Court, hearing a writ petition filed by the Association of Retired Supreme Court and High Court Judges, directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to notify rules framed by the Chief Justice concerning domestic help and other post‑retirement benefits for former judges, and later held a recall application …

The Supreme Court allowed the State of Rajasthan's appeal against a single High Court judge, Justice Shethna, who, while hearing a criminal revision petition, improperly called for the record of a writ petition already disposed of by a Division Bench, made intemperate allegations against the Chief Justice and former ch…

Petitioners Kashinath Kher and others filed contempt petitions under Section 23 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, alleging that respondents, including Dinesh Kumar Bhaghat, failed to implement the Supreme Court's directions in State Bank of India & Ors. v. Kashinath Kher & Ors. (1996) 8 SCC 762 concerning the prepar…

The Supreme Court entertained a writ of habeas corpus filed by Dhananjay Sharma alleging illegal detention by Haryana police on 15‑1‑1994. The police officials (SSP Anil Davra, Addl SP Sham Lal Goel and SHO Rajinder Singh) denied the allegations and filed false affidavits, while also pressurising the taxi driver Sushi …

Dr. Prodip Kumar Biswas, who runs alternative‑medicine institutions, advertised that his institutions were approved by the Calcutta High Court. A writ petition led the High Court to restrain him from using the Court’s name and to hold him guilty of criminal contempt, imposing a Rs 2,000 fine (order dated 11 May 1998). …

The Supreme Court entertained a contempt petition filed by environmental activist M.C. Mehta against Ashok Kumar Chhabra, who continued to operate a hot‑mix plant in Delhi despite the Court’s 1996 order directing closure of all hazardous (Ha) hot‑mix plants and subsequent orders allocating him an alternative site. The …

The murder of Aarushi Talwar and the subsequent killing of domestic help Hemraj led to a criminal trial before the Special Judicial Magistrate (CBI) in Ghaziabad. Dr. Rajesh Talwar and Dr. Nupur Talwar filed separate transfer petitions under Section 406 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, seeking to move the trial to De…

The appeal challenged a Division Bench order that the Chief Justice's 2003 notice directing contempt matters to be listed before any judge with the roster to dispose of the main case violated the Contempt of Court Rules. The Supreme Court examined whether such a listing procedure was permissible under the Contempt of C…

The petitioners, teachers appointed in West Bengal madrasas, filed contempt petitions seeking release of their salaries after the Supreme Court upheld the West Bengal Madrasa Service Commission Act, 2008, overturning a High Court decision that had declared parts of the Act unconstitutional. The Supreme Court had earlie…

The widow of a deceased employee of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) sought a compassionate appointment for her grandson, who was later given a temporary regular post after a 15‑year delay. The widow later applied for her son’s appointment and for cancellation of the grandson’s post; the High Court dismissed …

The Indian Airports Employees Union filed a contempt petition alleging that the airport authority failed to regularise six sweepers employed in the car‑parking area despite a Supreme Court direction to regularise sweepers after the abolition of contract labour. The respondents contended that the six workers were not co…

The Delhi High Court suo motu initiated contempt proceedings against the editor, city editor, publisher and cartoonist of the newspaper Mid Day for publishing articles and a cartoon that alleged judicial impropriety by former Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, deeming the publications contemptuous of the Supreme Court. The …

The Supreme Court examined the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) failure to implement the Lodha Committee recommendations, particularly the appointment of a CAG nominee to the Apex Council, despite a prior judgment dated 18 July 2016. The Court found that President Anurag Thakur had sought a letter from th…

A compound wall erected at police quarters in Nizamabad obstructed a public way, leading to an ex‑parte decree for its demolition. A warrant for demolition was issued and court officers proceeded to the site, but Circle Inspector Narasimha Raju, Sub‑Inspector Laxminarayana and other police personnel intervened, seized …

The Uttar Pradesh Sales Tax Association challenged a writ issued by the Allahabad High Court that restrained a Deputy Commissioner (Appeals) Sales Tax, Agra, from exercising his quasi‑judicial powers under Section 9 of the Uttar Pradesh Sales Tax Act, 1948, and ordered the transfer of his pending cases. The Bar Associa…

The plaintiff, New Delhi Television Ltd, filed a civil suit against Quantum Securities Pvt Ltd and others seeking a permanent injunction restraining defamatory communications and damages. During the suit, the plaintiff filed a Notice of Motion under Order XXXIX of the CPC and obtained an ex‑parte interim injunction on …

The Supreme Court examined a criminal contempt case where three appellants were accused of forging and using bogus interim orders of the Madras High Court to obstruct the execution of a decree. The High Court had convicted them of contempt and sentenced each to six months’ imprisonment, based on investigations by the C…

The Supreme Court examined contempt petitions filed by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) alleging that senior Tamil Nadu officials (respondents 1‑5) willfully disobeyed a Court order restraining political parties from calling a bandh on 1 October 2007, and that Union Minister T.R. Baalu (respondent …