2019 (3) ADR 227

Supreme Court Of India

Hon'ble Judge(s): Rohinton Fali Nariman, Vineet Saran , JJ

(A) Contempt of Courts Act (70 of 1971) , S.2(b)— Contempt of Court -Disobedience of order of Supreme Court - Order passed by Supreme Court against Reliance Companies to pay off debt due to Ericssons within fixed time limit -Undertakings given by Reliance Companies and Chairman of Reliance Communication that debt would be paid only out of sale of assets of companies - Is deliberate misstatement made in undertakings as well as application for extension of time - Wilful default on part of Reliance companies made out - Reliance Companies and Chairman of Reliance Communication held guilty of contempt of Court. The contempt petitions have been filed alleging that Reliance companies violated the undertaking made before court to pay off debts due to Ericsson worth Rs 550 crores. Undertakings given on 09.08.2018 by the three Chairmen of the three Reliance Companies were neither as per the Court's understanding of its order dated 03.08.2018, nor the understanding of the three Companies themselves, as is clear from the undertakings given by the three Directors pursuant to the order dated 30.05.2018. In this view of the matter, it is clear that the three Reliance Companies had no intention, at the very least, of adhering to the time limit of 120 days or to the extended time limit of 60 days plus, as was given by way of indulgence, by the order dated 23.10.2018. The und....