Contempt Proceedings Against Haryana – What is It ?
Source : The Hindu
Indian Polity

What is discussed under Contempt Proceedings Against Haryana – What is It ?

1. What is the issue ?
2. What is Contempt of Court ?
3. Punishment of Contempt of Court

Why in News ?

The Delhi Jal Board has asked the Supreme Court to initiate contempt proceedings against two Haryana officials for “wilfully” disobeying a court order to maintain the water level at the Wazirabad reservoir at full capacity to serve the  drinking water needs of the Capital.

Key Facts

• Delhi Jal Board (DJB) asked the Supreme Court to initiate contempt proceedings against Haryana Chief Secretary and

  

  the Additional Chief Secretary.

• What is the issue ?
  • For wilfully  disobeying a February 1996 order of the court to maintain the water level at the Wazirabad reservoir at full capacity to serve the drinking water needs of the Capital.
  • Order came in Delhi Water Supply and Sewage Disposal Undertaking versus State of Haryana case.
    • Court had directed that the water level at Wazirabad reservoir has to be kept full to its capacity by Haryana in order to meet the drinking water needs of Delhi.
  • As a result of non supplying the water to the reservoir the current water level is only 33%.
  • This leads to severe water crisis in the NCR. 

What is contempt of Court ?

• It falls under Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
• There are two types of contempt of court
  • Civil contempt : Wilful disobedience of any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process of a court, or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court.
  • Criminal contempt : Attracted by the publication (whether by words, spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representations, or otherwise) of any matter or the doing of any other act whatsoever which:
    1. scandalises or tends to scandalise, or lowers or tends to lower the authority of, any court; or
    2. prejudices, or interferes or tends to interfere with, the due course of any judicial proceeding; or
    3. interferes or tends to interfere with, or obstructs or tends to obstruct, the administration of justice in any other manner;
• Contempt of court may be punished with
  • Simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or
  • With fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or
  • with both provided that the accused may be discharged or the punishment awarded may be remitted on apology being made to the satisfaction of the court.

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