OM PRAKASH JAISWAL vs SHRI D.K. MITTAL

The Supreme Court addressed the applicability of Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, which bars contempt proceedings after one year from the date of the contempt. The Court held that the proceedings initiated by the appellant were indeed barred by Section 20, as the contemptuous act occurred on 11.1.1987 and the application for contempt was filed after the one-year limit. Consequently, the Court upheld the High Court's order to drop the contempt proceedings, affirming the statutory limitation on such actions.