TRUTH AS DEFENCE IN CONTEMPT CASES

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The Union Minister of Law and Justice Shri K. Jana Krishnamurthi has said that if the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 was to be amended truth would be made a defence for the contempt of courts. Releasing a book titled "Law of Contempt", written by the Chief Justice of Uttaranchal High Court Shri Justice Ashok A. Desai at a function here last evening, Shri Krishnamurthi said that truth was the sheet anchor of the Government as could be seen from its national emblem Satyamev Jayate (Truth Triumphs). The ultimate end of justice was to get to the truth. Entire system of justice was based on truth and finding of truth, the Minister said. The Law Minister called for a public debate on the Law of Contempt.

The Supreme Court judge Shri Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, in his presidential address, complimented Justice Desai, for his book and said a kind of balance had to be maintained relating to professional misconduct of advocates within the meaning of the Advocates Act, 1961 and truth as defence. He suggested a serious debate on the law of contempt while allaying misgivings on such matters.

The book is a treatise on the law of contempt in terms of the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. It is intended to meet the long felt needs of Bench, Bar and general public as a handy guide to understand the true scope of this extremely complex branch of law.