suggestions invited on the contempt of courts (amendment) bill, 2004

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

The Contempt of Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2004, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on the 1st December, 2004 and is pending. It has been referred to Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, headed by Shri E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, M.P. for examination and report.


The Bill seeks to amend Section 13 of the Contempt of Court Act, 1971, so as to empower the Courts to permit the justification by truth as a valid defence in any proceedings for contempt of court.


The Committee has decided to invite memoranda containing views of individuals/organizations, interested in the subject-matter of the Bill and to hear oral evidence on the subject.


Those desirous of submitting Memoranda to the Committee may send two copies (either in English or Hindi) to Shri Surinder Kumar Watts, Deputy Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, 007, Ground Floor, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi-110001 (Tel: 23034262 and Fax 23013917) within fifteen days of publication of this advertisement, indicating whether they would also be interested in giving oral evidence before the Committee.


The Memorandum which might be submitted to the Committee, would form part of the records of the Committee and would be treated as confidential. It should not be circulated to anyone, as such an act would constitute a breach of privilege of the Committee.


The Bill was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, part II, Section 2, dated the 1st December, 2004. Its copies can be had on written request to the above-mentioned officer. Its electronic text is also available on the official website http://rajyasabha.nic.in by clicking the option "Bills with Committees".