In Brief
ECL Finance Ltd challenged a High Court Division Bench order admitting a contempt petition against respondents for violating a consent decree. The Supreme Court held that an appeal under Section 19 of the Contempt of Courts Act lies only against an order imposing punishment for contempt, not against a preliminary order admitting the petition and issuing notice. Since the Single Judge had only issued notice at a preliminary stage—before deciding whether to punish—no appeal was maintainable. The Court set aside the Division Bench's order and requested consolidation of the contempt and execution proceedings, while emphasizing that nothing should prevent settlement between the parties.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.