NCLAT allowed the appeal and set aside the tribunal's contempt...

NCLAT allowed the appeal and set aside the tribunal's contempt order which had imposed simple imprisonment and fine for alleged disobedience of a prior direction by the Deputy Commissioner. The Court found that the order dated 29.03.2023 had been duly complied with and the Respondent recorded satisfaction; the Government officials-appellants tendered unqualified apologies and demonstrated that the non-compliance was inadvertent, arising from misunderstanding and misreading of records rather than wilful contumacy. Given purgation of contempt, absence of prior recalcitrance, and bona fide compliance, the contempts were purged and coercive sanctions were withdrawn, the impugned order being set aside.

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