1. This appeal arises from the common order in I. A Nos. 631 and 635 of 1983. We shall first deal with I.A. No. 635 of 1983 which relates to the alleged contempt committed by defendants 10 to 17 in O. S. No. 3 of 1981 of the Sub Court, Pathanamthitta. That suit was instituted by the respondent, the Bharath Petroleum Corporation Ltd. against defendants 1 to 9, being the legal representatives of the deceased Jacob, and defendants 10 to 17, being the legal representatives of the deceased Thomas. That suit was for obtaining renewal of the lease of the suit property and for consequential reliefs. The suit was dismissed with a direction that the plaintiff should remove its bunk, pump and tank from suit premises within one month from the date of the decree. An appeal was filed by the plaintiff in the District Court, Quilon which was numbered on 11-4-1983 as A S No. 49 of 1983. On that day Shri. C. P. Parameswaran Pillai, counsel for the 15th defendant, Shri. Baby Thomas (also known as Unnithan alias Babu) filed vakkalath. The case stood posted to 13-4-1983. A temporary stay of operation of the direction of the Sub Court was ordered by the District Court in I. A. No. 461 of 198