JUDGMENT

R.C. Lahoti, J.-Administrative Tribunals set up under the provisions of Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, do they or do they not have power to punish for their contempt? Whether after the decision of this court in L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India & Ors.1, Section 17 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 (hereinafter, the Act for short) does not survive and has been rendered unconstitutional or otiose? These questions of far-reaching implications to the administration of justice through tribunals arise for consideration in these appeals.

2. A cursory view of factual backdrop. An application (Contempt Application No. 562/1996 in O.A. No. 35574/1991) invoking the contempt jurisdiction of Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal under Section 17 of the Act and seeking initiation of proceedings against the Principal Secretary, Irrigation and CAD Department was filed complaining of willful disobedience by the latter of an order passed by the Tribunal in favour of the applicant. The Tribunal initiated the proceedings. The State of A.P. and the Principal Secretary filed a writ petition (CWP No. 34841/1997) in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh laying challenge to the jurisdict