JUDGMENT

The appellant having been convicted upon an application filed under Section 12, of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) has preferred this appeal. The abridged facts relevant for the disposal of this appeal are that in writ petition M.P.No. 2159 of 1986, filed by the present respondent No.1 Hari Shankar Bhandari, the Division Bench of the High Court rejected the unqualified apology of the appellant, convicted him and directed him to pay a fine of Rs. 2000/- in default of payment of fine, a simple imprisonment of one month. It was further directed that the fine amount, if recovered, will be paid to the original petitioner - Hari Shankar Bhandari as compensation for the inconvenience suffered by him. The facts, however, show that after the disposal of the writ petition on 12th April, 1988 whereby it was directed that the petitioners pension case should be finalised within three months from the date of the order and all dues in regard to pension etc. shall be paid to him within one month thereafter with interest at 12% per annum together with Rs.100/- by way of costs, the authorities then incharge of the matter did not finalise the case till t