23. Replacement of section 55 of the principal enactment

Section 55 of the principal enactment is hereby repealed and the following section is substituted therefor:-

55. (1) Every District Court, Family Court,

Small Claims Court, Magistrate’s Court and

Primary Court shall, for the purpose of maintaining its proper authority and efficiency, have a special jurisdiction to take cognizance of, and to punish with the penalties in that behalf as hereinafter provided, every offence of contempt of court committed in the presence of the court itself and all offences which are committed in the course of any act or proceeding in the said court respectively, and which are declared by any law for the time being in force to be punishable as contempt of court.

The following sentences of fines or imprisonment as the case may be, may be imposed on conviction for contempt by the following courts respectively, namely-

by a District Court and Family

by a Small Claims Court and

by a Primary Court – a fine not exceeding five hundred rupees or imprisonment, either simple or rigorous, for a period not exceeding three months.”.