The Kerala High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Centre, State government and the Law Commission on a writ petition seeking to declare unconstitutional the Contempt of Court Act.
The petition was filed by Mathews J. Nedumpara. According to him, the jurisdiction of the court had been widely abused not for securing the very primary objective, for which the Act had been enacted, but to silence dissent and criticism against it.
The petitioner pointed out that the power of contempt was often used against the voiceless, outspoken, and upright person who chose the noble duty of speaking truth, instead of committing the offence of keeping quiet.
The Act ought to be repealed as its provisions make the freedom of speech nugatory. — Special Correspondent
