With reference to the Supreme Court's contempt jurisdiction and the 2026 NCERT textbook controversy, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Under Article 129 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court is a Court of Record and has the power to punish for contempt of itself. 2. Criminal contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, includes any publication that scandalises or tends to lower the authority of any court.

Question

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 2 — Article 129 makes the Supreme Court a Court of Record with powers to punish for contempt. Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 defines criminal contempt to include publishing matter that scandalises or lowers the authority of the court, which was the legal basis invoked by the Supreme Court against the NCERT textbook.