Contempt of Courts Act, 1971
Section 13: Contempts not punishable in certain cases
Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force,—
(a) no court shall impose a sentence under this Act for a contempt of court unless it is satisfied that the contempt is of such a nature that it substantially interferes, or tends substantially to interfere with the due course of justice;
(b) the court may permit, in any proceeding for contempt of court, justification by truth as a valid defence if it is satisfied that it is in public interest and the request for invoking the said defence is bona fide.]
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 13
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Rajan Chadha & Anr. v. Sanjay Arora
When one Judge of the same Court has taken a particular view holding the respondent to be guilty of contempt, whether another Judge could have come to a finding that the respondent was not guilty of contempt.
- In Re: Prashant Bhushan and Anr. v. In Re:
- Dr. Subramanian Swamy v. Arun Shourie
- Suresh Chandra Poddar v. Dhani Ram and Ors.
- Murray and Co. v. Ashok Kr. Newatia and Anr.