SACHIN vs UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

Judgment text excerpt

$~37 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + Date of Decision: 05.02.2026 % LPA 57/2026 & CM APPL. 7966/2026 SACHIN .....Appellant Through: Ms. Vasudha Saini, Adv. versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Chetanya Puri, SPC with Ms.Himani, GP and Ms. Nisha Puri, Advs. CORAM: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ. (ORAL) CM APPL. 7967/2026 (for exemption) 1. Allowed, subject to all just exceptions. 2. The application stands disposed of. LPA 57/2026 & CM APPL. 7966/2026 (for stay) 3. This Letters Patent Appeal questions the validity of an order dated 24.12.2025 passed by learned Single Judge in CONT.CAS.(C) 1994/2025 instituted by the appellant, whereby the Contempt Petition has been disposed of by observing that in the facts of the case no willful disobedience is made out. 4. On a query by the Court as to how the instant Letters Patent Appeal shall be maintainable in view of the law laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Signature Not Verified LPA 57/2026 Page 1 of 8 Digiltally Signed By:SREERAM L Signing Date:10.02.2026 14:50:57 Court in Midnapore Peoples’ Coop. Bank Ltd. v. Chunilal Nanda, 2006 (5) SCC 399, learned counsel for the appellant has submitted that the instant Letters Patent Appeal will be maintainable in view of observations (IV) and (V) as contained in paragraph 11 of the judgment of Midnapore Peoples’ Coop. Bank Ltd. (supra). In this regard, the submission is that learned Single Judge, while disposing of the Contempt Petition vide impugned order dated 24.12.2025, has made certain observations which touches the merits of the dispute and therefore, the appeal under Section 19 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 will not be maintainable, however, the Letters Patent Appeal will be maintainable a