S.S.SANDHAWALIA, J.

1. The true termini for the determination of the limitation prescribed by Section 20 for proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 is the significant and somewhat intricate question necessitating this reference to the Full Bench.

2. The five petitioners had preferred an application under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (hereinafter called the Act) before the Advocate General, Punjab on Feb.27, 1981 for securing his consent in order to institute an action of criminal con- tempt against the three respondents-police officials. The alleged contempt inter alia was said to be committed by the filing of false affidavits by the three respondents on Dec.17, 1980 in an earlier habeas corpus matter in Criminal Writ No.163 of 1980, (Manjit Singh V/s. Darshan Singh. D.S.P.) decided on January 19, 1981. However, it was not till July 2, 1982 that the learned Advocate General, Punjab accorded his consent to the filing of a contempt petition against the respondents. After securing a copy of the said order, the present petition for contempt was instituted in this Court on July 21, 1982. When the matter came up for hearing before the Division Bench,