MATHAI M. K. Vs. FR THOMAS PAUL RAMBAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The above Contempt Appeal (C) has been instituted to impugn the order dated 8.12.2020 rendered by the learned Single Judge of this Court on IA No. 9/2020 in contempt of court case (C) No.2615 of 2019.

(2.) Heard Sri.Mathew J Nedumpara, learned counsel appearing for the appellants, Sri.K.V.Sohan, learned State Attorney appearing for the 2nd respondent-District Collector and Sri.S.Sreekumar, learned senior counsel instructed by Sri.Roshen.D. Alexander, learned counsel appearing for contesting respondent No.1.

(3.) The appellants herein are not parties to the Writ Petition (Civil), W.P.(C).No. 25089 of 2019, from which the abovesaid contempt of court case COC No. 2615 of 2019 has arisen. The 1st respondent herein had filed the above contempt of court case (C) No.2615 of 2019 alleging non-compliance of the directions and orders passed by this Court in the judgment dated 3.12.2019 in W.P.(C).No. 25089/2019. The appellants herein thereafter have approached the learned single Judge by filing the instant unnumbered IA which was subsequently numbered as IA No.9 of 2020 in the above contempt of court case (Civil) No.2615/2019, praying that they are directly affected by the proceedings in the contempt of court case and that if the contempt action is taken against the respondent-District Collector, it would amount to directly affecting the rights and interests of the appellants herein. The learned single Judge of this Court as per the impugned order rendered on 8.10.2020 has held that the third parties like the appellants herein do not have any statutory right to seek impleadment or intervention in contempt of court proceedings. It is this order rendered by the learned single Judge on 8.10.2020 in the abovesaid contempt of court case No. 2615 of 2019 that is under challenge in this case. Various submissions have been made by counsel for the appellants as well as the abovesaid learned senior counsel appearing for contesting respondent No.1 and the learned State Attorney appearing for the 2nd respondent-District Collector.