AMULYA RATAN HALDAR Vs. AMULYA CHANDRA BHADURI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a rule calling upon the opposite party to show cause why the order of the District Judge of Hooghly, dated 11 April 1928 imposing a fine of Rs. 50 on each of the petitioners for contempt of Court should not be set aside on the ground that it is based on no material eridence on the record. It appears that the Judge appointed a receiver in. a suit in respect of some properties alleged to belong to the Tarakeswar Temple. On 28 January 1928 the receiver submitted a report to the Judge the purport of which is that from the report of his collection agent he has found that the persons named in the report are systamatically opposing his collection agent and obstructiug the collection of rent from the tenants by him. On receipt of this report on 31 January the Judge issued notices to the petitioner to show cause why they should not be dealt with according to law for systematic opposition to the receiver's collection. The petitioners appeared before the Judge and in showing cause said that they were falsely implicated because they were not on good terms with the receiver's gomashta or collection agent. Without further materials, the learned Judge by his order of 11 April 1928 found the petitioners guilty of contempt of Court and sentenced them to pay a fine of Rs. 50 each. The only point which calls for consideration in this case is whether the order of the Judge based on the mere report of the receiver which again was based upon the report of his collection agent can be supported in law. A proceeding in contempt of Court partakes of the nature of a criminal proceeding inasmuch as the party charged, if found guilty, is punished with fine or imprisonment. No doubt the Court may act summarily in matters of this kind. But when it acts on the report of a receiver or any other officer, there should be some evidence either oral or by means of affidavits in order to enable the Court to come to a finding. As the proceeding taken by the Court in matters of contempt is a judicial proceeding in which the Court acts judicially, ordinarily, if the offence is not committed in the presence of the Court, it is started by means of an application supported by an affidavit ; and it is the practice in England that copies of the affidavit and other necessary papers are served wilts the notice of motion on the other party. Oswald on Contempt, Edn. 3, p. 205. At p. 212 the law is thus stated: In cases of criminal contempt, the facts are proved by affidavits and the person against whom a committal is sought has the right to see the applicants evidence in reply.

(2.) In re Motilal Ghose [1918] 45 Cal. 169 Woodroffe, J. at p. 200 observed thus: It is what is called a criminal contempt, but all proceedings, whether in respect of civil or criminal contempts, are, in my opinion, of a criminal nature where and in the sense that they are in poenam, that is, when their object is to punish by fine or imprisonment. It does not, however, follow that the procedure in such cases is in all respects the same as in an ordinary criminal case.... As regards the question of proof, no case, either civil or criminal should be tried and determined otherwise than according to the law governing it.

(3.) Mookerjee, J. at p. 240 of the report, drew a distinction between civil contempt and observed: In the case of a criminal contempt, the proceeding is for punishment of an act committed against the majesty of the law, and as the primary purpose of the punishment is the vindication of the public authority, the proceeding conforms as nearly as possible, to proceedings in criminal cases.