### Appeal Under Section 19 of Contempt of Courts Act Maintainable Only Against Orders Imposing Punishment

The Appellant, Weddingpark Hospitalities Pvt. Ltd., filed two appeals under Section 19(1)(a) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, challenging an order dated 24th February, 2026, passed by a Single Judge in O.M.P. (I)(COMM) 253/2024.

The Single Judge had rejected the Appellant’s contempt petition, which alleged that the Respondents had committed violations that neither the arbitrator nor the Single Judge addressed.

Along with the appeals, the Appellant filed applications for condonation of delay in filing and re-filing.

Whether an appeal under Section 19 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 is maintainable against an order by a Single Judge refusing to entertain or rejecting a contempt petition.

Section 19(1)(a) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 provides for appeals against orders punishing for contempt.

Midnapore Peoples' Coop. Bank Ltd. v. Chunilal Nanda (2006) 5 SCC 399: Established that an appeal under Section 19 is maintainable only against an order imposing punishment and that orders declining to initiate proceedings, dropping proceedings, or exonerating a contemnor are not appealable under Section 19.

The Division Bench examined the maintainability of the appeals in light of the Midnapore Peoples' Coop. Bank Ltd. decision and noted that the Appellant was challenging the Single Judge’s refusal to entertain the contempt petition.

Following the Supreme Court’s categorical ruling, the Bench determined that since the impugned order did not impose a punishment for contempt, it did not fall within the narrow ambit of Section 19 of the Act.

The court further observed that while directions on the merits of a dispute issued during contempt proceedings might be challenged via intra-court appeals or Article 136, a mere refusal to exercise contempt jurisdiction does not satisfy the statutory requirements for an appeal under Section 19.

The Court condoned the initial delays in filing but dismissed both appeals (CONT.APP.(C) 10/2026 and 11/2026) as withdrawn, granting liberty to the Appellant to avail remedies in accordance with the law.