PRITAM PAL vs HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH,JABALPUR THROUGH REGISTRAR

The Supreme Court addressed the contempt jurisdiction under Articles 129 and 215 of the Constitution of India, affirming that such powers cannot be curtailed by ordinary legislation. The Court held that the procedure for contempt proceedings must be fair, allowing the contemner an opportunity to defend themselves. In this case, the High Court's finding of criminal contempt against an advocate for making libellous allegations was upheld, and the sentence of two months' simple imprisonment was deemed justified under Sections 2(b), 17, and 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.