Contempt for non-compliance with payment direction: notice issued after continued non-payment despite finalised order.

Non-compliance with an earlier payment direction was treated as a prima facie basis for contempt because the prior judgment had attained finality for the time being and the pending review petition did not excuse withholding compliance. Continued non-payment despite the direction was viewed as sufficient to invoke contempt jurisdiction at the notice stage, and notice was issued to the alleged contemnors with a direction to file a show-cause reply within two weeks.

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Issues: Whether alleged non-compliance with the earlier payment direction disclosed a prima facie case of contempt and warranted issuance of notice to the alleged contemnors.

Analysis: The order records that the earlier judgment directing payment had attained finality for the time being, that the subsequent review petition did not justify withholding compliance, and that continued non-payment despite the direction could prima facie amount to contempt. Exercising contempt jurisdiction, notice was directed to be issued to the opposite parties requiring a show-cause reply within two weeks.

Outcome: Notice issued to the opposite parties in contempt proceedings and they were directed to file their show-cause reply.

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