The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971

(As on the 30th July, 2025)

1. The Contempt of Courts (Amendment) Act, 1976 (45 of 1976).

2. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2003 (31 of 2003).

3. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2005 (51 of 2005).

4. The Contempt of Courts (Amendment) Act, 2006 (6 of 2006).

5. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 (34 of 2019).

Cl., cls. . . . . . for Clause, clauses.

Ins. . . . . . ,, Inserted.

Notifn. . . . . . ,, Notification.

S., ss. . . . . . ,, Section, sections.

Sch. . . . . . ,, Schedule.

Subs. . . . . . ,, Substituted.

w.e.f. . . . . . ,, with effect from.

SECTIONS

1. Short title and extent.

2. Definitions.

3. Innocent publication and distribution of matter not contempt.

4. Fair and accurate report of judicial proceeding not contempt.

5. Fair criticism of judicial act not contempt.

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

7. Publication of information relating to proceedings in chambers or in camera not contempt except

in certain cases.

8. Other defences not affected.

9. Act not to imply enlargement of scope of contempt.

10. Power of High Court to punish contempts of subordinate courts.

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

12. Punishment for contempt of court.

13. Contempts not punishable in certain cases.

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

15. Cognizance of criminal contempt in other cases.

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

17. Procedure after cognizance.

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

19. Appeals.

20. Limitation for actions for contempt.

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

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

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

24. Repeal.

[24th December, 1971.]

An Act to define and limit the powers of certain courts in punishing contempts of courts and to

regulate their procedure in relation thereto.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-second Year of the Republic of India as follows:—