1981 CRI. L. J. 250 ::(1980) Mad LW 263 ::ILR 1981 (2) MAD 246

Madras High Court

Hon'ble Judge(s): Natarajan, Sethuraman , JJ

Contempt of Courts Act (70 of 1971) , S.23, S.14, S.15, S.10, S.11— Contempt proceedings - Interveners - If can be joined - Proceedings against Advocate - Bar Association and Judicial Officers Association - Cannot be impleaded as interveners. Contempt proceedings against an Advocate cannot be placed on a special footing. Thus, where in a contempt proceeding against the author of an article, the fact that the author of the article is an Advocate was revealed only after initiation of proceedings, the contemner Advocate was neither an office bearer of Bar Associations, nor had he written the article as a spokesman of the Association, the article also did not reveal that it was written by an Advocate in such circumstances it could not be said that rights and privileges of Advocates in general were involved in the proceedings, the Bar Association, therefore, could not be allowed to intervene. Section 23 empowers the High Court to frame Rules not inconsistent with the Act. There is no provision either in the Act or the rules framed thereunder, for third parties being allowed to intervene in contempt proceedings. As such, the applications by Bar Association and Judicial Officers Association for impleading them as interveners in contempt proceeding cannot be allowed.(Para 19) On reading Sections 14 and 15 it is seen that....