The Union Cabinet Thursday approved the Contempt of Courts Amendment Bill, 2004, which seeks to liberalise the law by introducing "truth" as a defence in contempt proceedings.
The decision was in line with the recommendations of the Constitution Review Commission, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.
This will further liberalise the scope to permit a defence of justification by truth on satisfaction as to bona fides of the plea and it being in public interest.
The Cabinet also approved the proposal to amend the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 to remove certain lacunae in the existing law.
The amendment seeks to make its provisions more stringent, deterrent and effective and was in line with India's international obligations at the United Nations. After Cabinet's approval both bills were likely to be introduced in Parliament in the next session.
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