B. SUDERSHAN REDDY, J.

( 1 ) THIS Contempt Appeal is directed against the order dated 27-9-2002 made in contempt Case No. 704 of 2002 by a learned single Judge of this Court. The learned single Judge by the said order dt. 27-9-2002 punished the appellant herein with imprisonment to stand up in the Court till the Court raises and to pay Rs. 2,000 as fine within two weeks and in default, to undergo simple imprisonment for one week. The said order is challenged on various grounds by the appellant.

( 2 ) IN order to consider the various submissions made on behalf of the appellant herein challenging the impugned order, it may be necessary to notice certain basic statutory features enshrined in the contempt of Courts Act. 1971 (for short the act ).

( 3 ) THE Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 has been introduced in the statute-book for the purposes of securing a feeling of confidence of the people in general and for due and proper administration of justice. It is a powerful weapon in the hands of the law courts.

( 4 ) SECTION 2 (a) of the Act defines contempt of Court . It means civil contempt or criminal contempt. Section 2 (b) of the Act in its turn says that civil contempt means wilful

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