Select Your Preferred Language

Please choose your language to continue.

Laws made by Parliament or State Legislature cannot be an act of Contempt of Court (CoC): Supreme Court (SC) | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
News Today Logo

Laws made by Parliament or State Legislature cannot be an act of Contempt of Court (CoC): Supreme Court (SC)

Posted 04 Jun 2025

2 min read

SC in the Nandini Sundar & Ors. Vs. State Of Chhattisgarh, held that enacting a law by legislature contradictory to previous Court orders cannot be viewed as CoC.

  • The court further held that a legislature has the powers to remove the basis of a judgment or, validate through an amendment a law which has been struck down.

About Contempt of the Court

  • Meaning: It refers to disobeying or disrespecting a court, lowering its authority and dignity. 
  • Legislative Framework: The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 and the Rules to Regulate Proceedings for Contempt of the Supreme Court, 1975. 
  • Types of Contempt
    • Civil Contempt: Wilful disobedience of court orders or undertakings.
    • Criminal Contempt: Publishing or doing anything (spoken, written, signs, etc.) that:
      • Scandalises or lowers court’s authority .
      • Prejudices or interferes with any ongoing proceedings
      • Obstructs the administration of justice in any manner. 
  • Major Exceptions (Contempt of Courts Act, 1971): Innocent publication; fair and accurate reporting of judicial proceedings; fair criticism of the judicial act, etc. 

Related Constitutional Provisions

  • Article 129: Makes the Supreme Court ‘a court of record’ and confers power to punish for contempt of itself. 
    • Article 215 extends similar powers to the High Court. 
  • Article 142: SC can pass orders to ensure complete justice, including contempt. 
  • Article 19(2): Includes contempt as a ground for reasonable restrictions on freedoms under Article 19(1). 
  • Tags :
  • Contempt of Court
  • Article 129
  • Contempt of Courts Act, 1971
Watch News Today
Subscribe for Premium Features

Quick Start

Use our Quick Start guide to learn about everything this platform can do for you.
Get Started