Laws - The Contempt of Courts Act

20. Limitation for actions for contempt - No court shall initiate any proceedings if contempt, either on its own motion or otherwise, after the expiry of a period of one year from the date on which the contempt is alleged to have been committed.

COMMENTS

(i) Initiation of any proceedings for contempt is barred after the expiry of a period of one year from the date on which the contempt is alleged to have been committed; V.M. Kanade v.Madhao Gadkari, (1990) 1 Mah LR 544 (Bom).

(ii) No intervening event or order stops the running of time specified in this section; Golcha Avertising Agency v. The State of Maharashtra, (1990) 2 Bom CR 262 (Bom).

(iii) The expression "Court" denotes a High Court or the Supreme Court; The State of Bihar v.Ambika Roy, 1991 Cr LJ 82 (Pat).

(iv) The provisions of the Limitation Act, 1963 do not apply; Krishnalal Chhoteylal, (1987) 13 ALR 44.

(v) Delay in initiating contempt proceedings cannot be condoned; T.M.A. Abdul Hamed v.S.Radhakrishnan, 1989 LW (Crl) 237.