Rama Jois, J.—In this complaint presented under Article 215 of the Constitution of India read with Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (the Act for short) in which the complainant complains that respondent No. 1 has failed to comply with the directions issued to him by this Court in W.P. No. 33040/1982, DR. H.L. Thimme gowda v. Deputy Commissioner - DD 8-5-1986, in view of the preliminary objections raised by the 1st respondent, the following question of law arises for consideration:

"Whether the period of limitation of one year for initiating proceedings for contempt of Court from the date on which the contempt is alleged to have been committed, prescribed under Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 applies to the exercise of power conferred on this Court under Article 215 of the Constitution of India, to punish for contempt of itself?"

2. The facts of the case, in brief are these:- There have been number of Writ Petitions including public interest petitions presented before this Court questioning the legality of the lease of a very valuable site located in the most important business locality of Bangalore City belonging to the State Government to t