What is Contempt of Court?
Historical Background
Key Points
10 points- 1.
Civil contempt: Willful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ, or other process of a court or willful breach of an undertaking given to a court.
- 2.
Criminal contempt: Publication of any matter or doing any other act which scandalizes or tends to scandalize, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any court; or prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with, the due course of any judicial proceeding; or obstructs or tends to obstruct the administration of justice.
- 3.
The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 defines and limits the powers of courts in India to punish for contempt.
- 4.
Punishment for contempt can include imprisonment and/or fine.
Visual Insights
Contempt of Court: Understanding the Concept
This mind map breaks down the concept of Contempt of Court, its types, legal framework, and its interplay with freedom of speech.
Contempt of Court
- ●Definition & Purpose
- ●Types of Contempt
- ●Legal Framework
- ●Defences & Limitations
- ●Recent Developments
Recent Real-World Examples
4 examplesIllustrated in 4 real-world examples from Feb 2026 to Apr 2026
Source Topic
Balancing Free Speech, Institutional Autonomy, and Judicial Contempt Power
Polity & GovernanceUPSC Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
61. What is Contempt of Court and what is its constitutional basis in India?
Contempt of Court means disobeying or disrespecting a court's authority, justice, and dignity. It can be either civil contempt (disobeying a court order) or criminal contempt (actions that scandalize or lower the authority of the court). As per the provided data, Article 129 (Supreme Court as a court of record) and Article 215 (High Courts as courts of record) are related to Contempt of Court.
Exam Tip
Remember the two types of contempt: civil and criminal. Also, note Articles 129 and 215 relate to the courts' power to record contempt.
2. What are the key provisions related to Civil and Criminal Contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971?
The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 defines civil and criminal contempt as follows: * Civil contempt: Willful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ, or other process of a court or willful breach of an undertaking given to a court. * Criminal contempt: Publication of any matter or doing any other act which scandalizes or tends to scandalize, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any court; or prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with, the due course of any judicial proceeding; or obstructs or tends to obstruct the administration of justice.
