The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971
18. Hearing of cases of criminal contempt to be by Benches –
(1) Every case of criminal contempt under section 15 shall be heard and determined by a Bench of not less than two Judges.
(2) Sub section (1) shall not apply to the court of a judicial commissioner.
COMMENTS
(i) The jurisdiction rests exclusively with a Bench of not less than two Judges of the High Court; B.R. Karandikar v.M.Y.Joshy, (1983) 2 Bom Cr 558 (Bom).
(ii) However, it was observed that a single Judge can also deal with criminal contempt’s committed in facie curium; In re: Court on its own motion, AIR 1980 P & H 72.
The Contempt of Courts Act, 1971