Contempt of Courts Act 1971

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:

PROVIDED that it shall not apply to the State of Jammu and Kashmir except to the extent to which the provisions of this Act relate to contempt of the Supreme Court.

 

Section 2 Definitions

Section 3 Innocent publication and distribution of matter not contempt

Section 4 Fair and accurate report of judicial proceeding not contempt

Section 5 Fair criticism of judicial act not contempt

Section 6 Complaint against presiding officers of subordinate courts when not contempt

Section 7 Publication of information relating to proceeding in chambers or in camera not contempt except in certain cases

Section 8 Other defenses not affected

Section 9 Act not to imply enlargement of scope of contempt

Section 10 Power of High Court to punish contempt of subordinate courts

Section 11 Power of High Court to try offences committed or offenders found outside jurisdiction

Section 12 Punishment for contempt of court

Section 13 Contempt not punishable in certain cases

Section 14 Procedure where contempt is in the face of the Supreme Court or a High Court

Section 15 Cognizance of criminal contempt in other cases

Section 16 Contempt by judge, magistrate or other person acting judicially

Section 17 Procedure after cognizance

Section 18 Hearing of cases of criminal contempt to be by Benches

Section 19 Appeals

Section 20 Limitation for actions for contempt

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

Section 22 Act to be in addition to, and not in derogation of, other laws relating to contempt

Section 23 Power of Supreme Court and High Courts to make rules

Section 24 of Contempt of Courts Act 1971 "Repeal"

Rules To Regulate Proceedings For Contempt Of Supreme Court, 1975