Compliance Of An Order Under Threat Of Contempt Cannot Take Away Party's Right To Challenge That Order: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India ruled that complying with an order under the threat of contempt does not prevent a party from challenging that order. The judgment came from a case where the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) directed insurance companies to pay claims despite disputes over liability. The insurance companies complied to avoid contempt proceedings but later contested the NCDRC's directive. The Supreme Court emphasized that compliance under duress does not equal acceptance of the order's validity. The ruling safeguards the right to appeal and ensures that fear of contempt does not undermine the right to judicial review.