Law of Contempt and Media
Law of Contempt and Media
Law of Contempt and Media
CONTEMPT
OBJECTIVE
• To examine the basic purpose of contempt law in India.
George Washington
DEFINITION
PURPOSE
• interfere with, or
• obstruct
A CONFLICT
between
Freedom of speech in the Constitution
versus
Need to safeguard the status and dignity of courts
and
interests of administration of justice.
WHILE INVOKING CONTEMPT LAW
CARE IS TO BE TAKEN
THAT
• The dignity of the court is to be maintained at all
costs.
• Contempt jurisdiction, which is of a special nature,
should be sparingly used.
EXCEPTIONS TO CONTEMPT
1. Innocent publications
2. Fair comments/criticism
SECTION 3
• words
– spoken, or
– written
• signs
• visible representation
• or otherwise
SECTION 4
Jaswant Singh V
Virender Singh 1995 Supp (1)
SCC 384
Judgments are open to criticism that must be
done without casting aspersions on the
judge and the courts, and without adverse
comments amounting to scandalising the
courts.
EXAMPLES OF WHAT CONSTITUTES
CONTEMPT
1. Section 13
Truth
2. Privileges
WHEN IS CONTEMPT
NOT PUNISHABLE?
Section 13