Use of lawful legal remedies, without coercion or pressure to affect pending proceedings, is not contempt of court.

Initiation of lawful proceedings under Section 476 CrPC and Section 500 IPC, without threat, coercion, or extraneous pressure aimed at influencing pending litigation, does not amount to contempt of court. The Court found no material showing that the opposite party used those proceedings to harass the applicant, prevent him from prosecuting his case, or prejudice a fair trial. As the complaint was only an invocation of ordinary legal process, the contempt notice was discharged and the motion failed, with the ancillary proceedings stayed until disposal of the guardianship case.

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Issues: Whether the opposite party's application under Section 476 of the Criminal Procedure Code and complaint under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code amounted to contempt of Court by exerting pressure on the applicant and interfering with the pending guardianship proceedings.

Analysis: A mere resort to legal proceedings, without a threat or extraneous pressure designed to compel withdrawal of a plea or defence in pending litigation, does not constitute contempt. The application under Section 476 was only a request that the Court consider whether false statements in an affidavit called for action, and the subsequent complaint under Section 500 was an immediate invocation of the ordinary process of law. There was no material to show that either step was taken to harass the applicant, to prevent him from prosecuting his case, or to create an atmosphere prejudicial to a fair trial.

Conclusion: The conduct complained of did not amount to contempt of Court, and the notice was discharged.

Final Conclusion: Mere initiation of proceedings in Court against a party, without intimidation or a threat intended to influence pending proceedings, is not contempt of Court; the applicant's motion failed and the ancillary proceedings were stayed till disposal of the guardianship case.

Ratio Decidendi: Invocation of lawful judicial remedies, absent threat, coercion, or pressure aimed at affecting pending proceedings, is not a contempt of Court.

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