there shall not be punishment beyond the limit prescribed under the provisions of the Act

That Article 20(1) of the Constitution of India provides a protection to every citizen that there shall not be punishment beyond the limit prescribed under the provisions of the Act. In this case Contempt of Court Act, 1971. 6.10.

Article 20(1) of the Constitution of India reads thus;

“Article 20(1) No person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of a law in force at the time of the commission of the Act charged as an offence, nor be subjected to a penalty greater than that which might have been inflicted 17 under the law in force at the time of the commission of the offence.”