( 1 ) THIS appeal is against the order of the learned Single Judge dismissing the appellant s contempt case against the respondents. It is needless to go into the merits because the impugned order or decision not being one in the exercise of high Court s jurisdiction to punish for contempt this appeal therefrom is itself. in our view not maintainable.

( 2 ) TRACING briefly the law on contempt, the first comprehensive legislation thereon was the Contempt of Courts Act, 1926. It was repealed and replaced by the Contempt of Courts Act, 1952. It was however generally felt that though statutory jurisdiction under the Contempt of Courts Act to punish for contempt had impact on two important fundamental rights, namely personal liberty and freedom of speech, the law on the subject was not satisfactory and needed to be reviewed. It also suffered a vital lacuna viz. , absence of appeal even though the contemnor was punished. A committeethe Sanyal Committee was thereupon appointed in 1961 under the chairmanship of the then Addl. Solicitor general, H N Sanyal. Its report contained a comprehensive review of the subject. It took note inter alia, of the importance of the right of freedom of speec

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