Letters Patent appeal would lie only from the judgment passed in exercise of original jurisdiction

In Union Territory Of Jk vs Shahnaza Parveen & Ors, Letters Patent Appeal under Clause 12 of the Letters Patent has been filed by B. K. Singh, IFS, Administrative Secretary to Government, Department of School Education, J&K, challenging the orders dated 19th October 2020, 20th November 2020 and 11th  December 2020 passed by the learned Single Judge dealing with the contempt petition CPSW No. 380/2018 arising out of judgment and order dated 12th February 2015 passed by the writ court.."

Dismissing the appeal, the HC held that in State of J&K & Ors vs. Mohd. Tayoub Leharwal and Anr. 2018 (1) JKJ 627 (HC) a Division Bench of this court held that under Section 19 of the Contempt of Courts Act 1997 Right to Appeal is available only against an order or decision of the High Court to punish for contempt. It has further relied upon a decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Midnapore People’s Cooperative Bank Ltd. vs. Chuni Lal Nanda 2006 (5) SCC 399 to hold that under Clause 12 of Letters Patent, an appeal would lie to the Division Bench only from the “judgment” of the learned Single Judge passed in exercise of original jurisdiction. The word “judgment” in terms of Clause 12 is undoubtedly a concept of finality in broader sense. It would either be a final judgment, a preliminary judgment or intermediary judgment or interlocutory judgment, but it should be a judgment in the sense that it decides some issue or right between the parties finally. The intermediary and interlocutory orders passed during the course of the proceedings which do not determine any right or issue between the parties cannot be said to be a “judgment” amenable to available jurisdiction of the Division Bench under Clause 12 of the Letters Patent.