Contempt of Court
๐ฐContempt of Court๐ฐ ๐บWhy it is in news?๐บ ๐ปContempt of Court, as a concept that seeks to protect judicial institutions from motivated attacks and unwarranted criticism, and as a legal mechanism to punish those who lower its authority, is back in the news in India. This follows the initiation of contempt proceedings by the Supreme Court of India, on its own motion, against advocate-activist Prashant Bhushan, for his two tweets criticising the judiciary. ๐บHow did the concept of Contempt of Court come into being?๐บ ☘The concept of contempt of court is several centuries old. ☘In England, it is a common law principle that seeks to protect the judicial power of the king, initially exercised by himself, and later by a panel of judges who acted in his name. Violation of the judges’ orders was considered an affront to the king himself. ☘Over time, any kind of disobedience to judges, or obstruction of the implementation of their directives, or comments and actions that showed dis...