New Delhi. The Supreme Court has expressed strong displeasure over the trend of non-compliance of court orders and delay in filing appeals when contempt petitions are filed. The apex court has said that if strictness is not shown in such cases, then people’s trust in the judiciary may weaken. Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R. Mahadevan’s bench said that in recent years it has been seen that court orders are not followed for a long time and when contempt petition is filed, then appeal or review petition is filed with considerable delay. The top court said that delay in appeal should be an exception, but now it is almost becoming the rule. The Supreme Court bench said that such a trend cannot be accepted. According to the top court, when a party willfully does not comply with court orders, this conduct adversely affects the dignity of the judiciary and the rule of law. In such cases the conduct may at times border on criminal contempt. The court said that if the High Court and the Supreme Court do not show firmness in these matters, then the unwavering faith of the common citizens of the country in the judiciary may weaken.
According to the court, if a party knowingly does not follow the order despite being aware of the order, then it will come under the ambit of contempt. The Supreme Court said that contempt proceedings will not be limited only to persons who are parties in the court. Actually, the Supreme Court made this comment during the hearing of the contempt petition filed against the officials of Chhattisgarh government. The case was related to non-compliance of orders related to regularization of services of employees. The Supreme Court has given 15 days time to the state government officials to implement the order.
