Summarize the following court judgment. ivil Appeal No. 871 of 1986 etc. From the Judgment and Order dated 29.1.1986 of the Patna High Court in Misc. Judicial Case No. 356 of 1985. K.K. Venugopal	 Jaya Narain	 R.P. Singh	 M.P. Jha	 B.P. Singh	 Ranjit Kumar	 Ranjan Dwivedi and P.P. Singh for the appearing parties. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by KHALID	 J. These appeals are directed against the Judg ment of a Division Bench of Patna High Court in Misc. case No. 356 of 1985. Appeal No. 871 of 1986 is by the State of Bihar	 Appeal No. 916 5 jointly by Srideo Mishra	 Judicial Commissioner	 Ranchi (at the relevant time	 Secretary cum Legal Remembrancer	 Depart ment of Law	 Government of Bihar	 Patna) and Mrs. Radha Singh	 Commissioner	 Ranchi Division	 Ranchi (at the rele vant time Additional Irrigation Commissioner. 	 Patna)	 Appeal No. 933 by Subh Chandra	 Jha	 Public Relation Offi cer	 Irrigation Department	 Government of Bihar	 Patna and Appeal No. 1178 by Birkeshwar Prasad Singh	 now Professor and Head of Department Political Science	 Magadh University (Member	 Bihar Public Service Commission	 Patna at the relevant time). The appellants have been convicted by the High Court for contempt of its order and have been sentenced to a fine of Rs.50 in default to suffer simple imprisonment for two weeks. The High Court had issued contempt notice against some others also. Those notices were discharged against them. The background facts necessary can be now stated in brief as follows: In the Irrigation Department of the State of Bihar	 there existed a post of Public Officer. This post became vacant some time in 1979. One Arun Kumar Verma was appointed to that post for six months. At that time one Kripalu Shan ker was discharging the functions of Public Relation Offi cer. He laid claim to that post. He did not succeed. The Secretary to the Department did not accede to his request. Therefore	 he filed C.W.J.C. No. 3632 of 1979. When the case came up for hearing	 it was represented on behalf of the State that Shri Verma was appointed only on ad hoc basis for a period of six months and that after the expiry of six months	 the matter would be referred to the Public Service Commission for consideration and at that stage the case of Kripalu Shankar also will be considered. It is submitted that on this assurance by the State	 the petition was al lowed to be withdrawn as per order dated 19.12.1979. It appears that this assurance was not respected	 no reference was made to the Public Service Commission for regular ap pointment and the matter was kept in abeyance for a long time. It is stated that in April	 1983	 by which time Dr. Jagannath Mishra had become Chief Minister	 the State Gov ernment appointed Subh Chandra Jha as P.R.O. again on ad hoc basis. This gave rise to the filing of petition No. 1534 of 1983 which was disposed of on 4.5.83. It was contended that this appointment was made without any advertisement and without consultation with the Public Service Commission. The learned Advocate General informed the Court when the matter came up for heating that the appointment of Jha was only ad hoc giving an impression that regular appointment would be made after the expiry of six months. On this representation the following order was passed by the Court: 6 "In the circumstances we direct that the post of Public Relations Officer in the Irrigation Department on which respondent 3 has been appointed on ad hoc basis should be filled up in a regular way. In case the appointment is not made within the period of six months	 the ad hoc appointment shah stand terminated. We further direct that the fact that the respond ent No. 3 has worked on the post on ad hoc basis will not be taken to be a qualification for the purpose of any appointment through regular method on the post of Public Relations Officer. " The six months ' period	 according to the above order	 was to expire on 17.10.1983. The case of the State is that the Irrigation Department had as early as 4.4.1983 written to the Public Service Commission to give concurrence to the appointment of Shri Jha	 since his post was an ex cadre post and since he was selected by a Selection Committee. Concur rence was given on 2.4.85. The Government thereafter exam ined the matter in consultation with the Personnel (Adminis trative) Reforms Department	 with reference to the provi sions of the Rules governing reservations. The Government took a decision to send a requisition to the Bihar Public Service Commission for advertising the post. The Commission finally advertised the post on 12.5.1985	 setting out the eligibility and criterion for selection. Another Writ Petition was filed in the High Court as C.W.J.C. No. 2354/85 with the allegations that the adver tisement was specially drafted to suit only Subh Chandra Jha. The matter was listed for admission on 13.6.1985. During the hearing of this petition the High Court felt on going through the records including the notes file summoned for production by the Court that its direction in C.W.J.C. No. 1534/83 was disregarded and	 therefore	 rule was issued upon the respondents to show cause why they should not be punished for contempt of the Court for ignoring its order dated 4.5.1983	 in the above mentioned writ petition. The State of Bihar and the Commissioner cum Secretary	 Irrigation Department who were respondent nos. 1 & 2 before the High Court expressed regret but at the same time con tended that no contempt had been committed by them for the reason that expression of views in the notings made on the files whether they were right or wrong did not amount to contempt of court and that no order was passed appointing Subh Chandra Jha after 17.10.1983 to invite any contempt action. The third respondent also pleaded similarly and expressed regret for any omission on his part. The Bihar Service Commission and its Executive Officer stated that they had not 7 committed any contempt	 that Subh Chandra Jha 's appointment from 18.10.1983 should be treated as a fresh appointment	 that they did not know about the order passed in petition No. 1534 of 1983	 that though concurrence was given	 it was withdrawn when the correct facts were made known to them and that the withdrawal of the concurrence was duly communicat ed. The other respondents also adopted similar stand in the returns filed by the end. Arguments in the contempt matter were heard for some time	 and they were concluded on 12.8.1985 and the case was posted for Judgment. The Court went through the Government files and the files of the Bihar Public Service Commission. From the noting in the file	 the High Court discovered that Mrs. Radha Singh	 the then Additional Irrigation Commission er and Birkeshwar Prasad Singh	 Member Bihar Public Service Commission and Sanjeevan Sharma	 Section Officer	 Bihar Public Service Commission	 had also a part in the matter. Notices were	 therefore	 directed to be issued to them as well. They appeared and were heard on 25.9.1985. The High Court considered the question of contempt on the following facts	 which accord ing to it were undisputed: (i) The ad hoc appointment of S.C. Jha must be terminated on 17.10.1983 as per its order. (ii) He was still working as P.R.O. with the acquiescence of the concerned officers. (iii) Concurrence of the Public Service Commission was sought	 for his fresh ad hoc appointment. (iv) The Public Service Commissioner gave concurrence to the ad hoc appointment from October	 1983	 by its order in May	 1985. The High Court expressed itself	 of what it felt about the disobedience of its order in para 4 of the Judgment as follows: "The State Government has ignored the order of the High Court. It had	 therefore	 to be made party. The Irrigation Commissioner cum Secre tary is responsible for every act of his Department. It was	 therefore	 but natural that the proceeding should be drawn up against him also. Shrideo Mishra	 Legal Remembrancer was proceeded against	 as he advised the State Government on 10.10.1983 to seek concurrence from the Commission in the fresh ad hoc ap pointment of Subh Chandra Jha knowing ball well the dictate of 8 this Court that services of Subh Chandra Jha must be terminated after the expirty of six months. Incidentally	 it may be stated once again that the six months period had expired on 17.10.1983. The Public Service Commission and the Special Executive Officer thereof have been proceeded against for granting concur rence to the Ad hoc appointment of Subh Chan dra Jha. Subh Chandra Jha himself has been proceeded against for master minding the whole affair. Proceeding is against him too on that score. The proceeding was initiated against A.U. Sharma on the footing that he was the Irrigation Commissioner in October	 1983 when the service of Subh Chandra Jha had to be terminated. That is how the contemners have been proceeded against. " The High Court found the officers guilty for the reasons given below in Paragraph 22 of the Judgment	 which we read so that the approach of the High Court could be properly appreciated. "It is necessary to consider the submission urged by learned Advocate General on behalf of the officers of the State and the public service commission. The General submission was	 that notings did not represent the con cluded decision of the Government	 and there fore	 the officers were not liable for con tempt of court. The proposition advanced by learned Advocate General is rather too wide. A Government file is not an individual 's private property. It is public property. The opinions expressed therein are liable to reduce the credibility and the binding nature of the orders passed by the High Court	 and that would amount to denigration of the State Judiciary. No officer has the right to abuse the High Court or to ignore the orders passed by the High Court. I do not for a moment contend that for every noting in the file contrary to the view taken by the High Court will amount to contempt of court. It will depend upon the nature of the view noted in the file and whether the nothings are intended to set the High Court 's order at nought mali ciously. In the present case	 the order of the High Court was explicit. The Advocate General had advised explicitly that taking any steps to appoint Subh Chandra Jha ad hoc would amount to contempt of court and yet the offi cers were busy trying to find out how to ignore the High Court order. When the High Court 's direction was to make the regular appointment through the 9 B.P.S.C. where was the occasion for seeking concurrence of ad hoc appointment of Subh Chandra Jha. The whole file gives the impres sion that the officers in the state were not reconciled to the orders passed by the High Court. I am	 therefore	 unable to hold that some of the officers were not liable for contempt of court." After considering the factual matrix before the Court	 the Court held that there was no disobedience of its order by the Government and that the Government had taken a deci sion not to continue the ad hoc appointment but observed as follows: "The State of Bihar as a jurisdic person has certainly not committed contempt. Because their Chief Minister Shri Chandresekhar Singh wrote on 8.1. 1984 that the High Court order must be obeyed. On 10.3. 1984	 the Chief Secretary noted that Shri Jha should not be granted ad hoc appointment . the State of Bihar therefore cannot be held to be guilty of contempt of this Hon 'ble Court . " After this finding	 the High Court held some of the officers of the Government guilty solely on the basis of the views expressed by them in the files	 which were not	 in fact	 accepted by the Government and which were only at the stage of suggestions and views. Shri K.K. Venugopal	 the learned counsel for the State contended that it would be unsafe to initiate action in contempt merely on the strength of notings by officials on the files	 expressing their views and to do so would imperil the working of various depart ments in a Government in a democracy and would have far reaching consequences. Some times a view expressed by an officer may be incorrect. The view so expressed passes through various hands and gets translated into action only at the ultimate stage. The views so expressed are only for internal use. Such views may indicate the line of thinking of a particular officer. Until the views so expressed culmi nate into an executable order	 the question of disobedience of Court 's order does not arise. Though the State Government have been found not guilty	 the State has filed the appeal to protect its officers from independent and fearless ex pression of opinion and to see that the order under appeal does not affect the proper functioning of the Government. It cannot be disputed that the appeal raises an impor tant question of law bearing upon the proper functioning of a democratic Government. A Government functions by taking decisions on the strength of views and suggestions expressed by the various officers at different levels	 ultimately getting finality at the hands of the Minister 10 concerned. Till then	 conflicting opinions	 views and sug gestions would have emanated from various officers at the lower level. There should not be any fetter on the fearless and independent expression of opinions by officers on mat ters coming before them through the files. This is so even when they consider orders of courts. Officers of the Govern ment are often times confronted with orders of courts	 impossible of immediate compliance for various reasons. They may find it difficult to meekly submit to such orders. On such occasions they will necessarily have to note in the files	 the reasons why the orders cannot be complied with and also indicate that the courts would not have passed these orders if full facts were placed before them. The expression of opinion by the officers in the internal files are for the use of the department and not for outside expo sure or for publicity. To find the officers guilty for expressing their independent opinion	 even against orders of courts in deserving cases	 would cause impediments in the smooth working and functioning of the Government. These internal notings	 in fact	 are privileged documents. Notings made by the officers in the files cannot	 in our view	 be made the basis of contempt action against each such officer who makes the notings. If the ultimate action does not constitute contempt	 the intermediary suggestions and views expressed in the notings	 which may sometimes even amount ex facie disobedience of the courts orders	 will nor amount to contempt of court. These notings are not meant for publi cation. In our considered view the internal notes file of the Government	 maintained according to the vales of business	 is a privilege document. if the Government claims privilege or quasi privilege regarding the notes file we will not be justified in rejecting the claim outright. In this case	 the notes file was brought to the Court not voluntarily by the Government. It was summoned for by the Court. The Court can always look into it. The right of the Court to look into any files	 can never be denied. The contents of the notes file brought to Court got communicated to the Court because the Court looks into it. It would be dangerous to find an action for contempt	 for the views expressed in the notes file	 on the discovery of unpleasant or unsavory notes	 on a perusal of the notes file by the Court	 after getting them summoned. This would impair the independent functioning of the civil service essential to democracy. This would cause impediments in the fearless expression of opinion by the officers of the Government. The notings on files differ from officer to officer. It may well be that the notes made by a particular officer	 in some cases	 technically speaking is in disobedi ence in an order of the Court or may be in violation of such order but a more experienced officer sitting above him can always correct him. To rely upon the notings in a file for the purpose of initiat 11 ing contempt	 in our view	 therefore	 would be to put the functioning of the Government out of gear. We must guard against being over sensitive	 when we come across	 objec tionable notings made by officers	 sometimes out of inexpe rience	 sometimes out of over zealousness and sometimes out of ignorance of the nuances of the question of law involved. Now	 the functioning of Government in a State is gov erned by Article 166 of the Constitution	 which lays down that there shall be a council of ministers with the Chief Minister at the head	 to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions except where he is required to exercise his functions under the Constitution	 in his dis cretion. Article 166 provides for the conduct of Government business. It is useful to quote this Article: "166. (1) All executive action of the Govern ment of a State shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Governor. (2) Orders and other instruments made and executed in the name of the Governor shall be authenticated in such manner as may be specified in rules to be made by the Gover nor	 and the validity of an order or instru ment which is so authenticated shall not be called in question on the ground that it is not an order or instrument made or executed by the Governor. (3) The Governor shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of the State and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business in so far as it is not business with respect to which the Governor is by or under this Constitution required to act in his discretion. " Articles 166(1)requires that all executive action of the State Government shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Governor. This clause relates to cases where the executive action has to be expressed in the shape of a formal order or notification. It prescribes the mode in which an executive action has to be expressed. Noting by an official in the departmental file will not	 therefore	 come within this Article nor even noting by a Minister. Every executive decision need not be as laid down under Article 166(1) but when it takes the form of an order it has to comply with Article 166(1). Article 166(2) states that orders and other instruments made and executed under Article 166(1)	 shall be authenticated in the manner prescribed. While clause (1) relates to the mode of expression	 clause (2) lays down the manner in 12 which the order is to be authenticated and clause (3) re lates to the making of the rules by the Governor for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Govern ment. A study of this Article	 therefore	 makes it clear that the notings in a file get culminated into an order affecting right of parties only when it reaches the head of the department and is expressed in the name of the Governor	 authenticated in the manner provided in Article 166(2). Viewed in this light	 can it be said that what is con tained in a notes file can ever be made the basis of an action either in contempt or in defamation. The notings in a notes file do not have behind them the sanction of law as an effective order. It is only an expression of a feeling by the concerned officer on the subject under review. To exam ine whether contempt is committed or not	 what has to be looked into is the ultimate order. A mere expression of a view in notes file cannot be the sole basis for action in contempt. Business of a State is not done by a single offi cer. It involves a complicated process. In a democratic set up it is conducted through the agency of a large number of officers. That being so	 the noting by one officer	 will not afford a valid ground to initiate action in contempt. We have thus no hesitation to hold that the expression of opinion in notes file at different levels by concerned officers will not constitute criminal contempt. It would not	 in our view	 constitute civil contempt either for the same reason as above since mere expression of a view or suggestion will not bring it within the vice of sub section (c) of Section 2 of the 	 which defines civil contempt. Expression of a view is only a part of the thinking process preceding Government action. In the case of Bachhittar Singh vs The State of Punjab	 [1962] Suppl. 3 SCR 713 a Constitution Bench of this Court had to consider the effect of an order passed by a Minister on a file. which order was not communicated. This Court	 relying upon Article 166(1) of the Constitution	 held that the order of the Revenue Minister	 PEPSU could not amount to an order by the State Government unless it was expressed in the name of Rajpramukh as required by the said Article and was then communicated to the party concerned. This is how this Court dealt with the effect of the noting by a Minister on the file: "The question	 therefore	 is whether he did in fact make such an order. Merely writing some thing on the file does not amount to an order. Before something amounts to an order of the State Government two things are necessary. The order has to be expressed in the name of the Governor 13 as required by clause (1) of Article 166 and then if has to be communicated. As already indicated	 no formal order modifying the decision of the Revenue Secretary was ever made. Until such an order is drawn up the State Government cannot	 in our opinion	 be regarded as bound by what was stated in the file. As long as the matter rested with him the Revenue Minister could well score out his remarks or minutes on the file and write fresh ones. " This Court observed in this Judgment that business of State is a complicated one and has necessarily to be con ducted through the agency of a large number of official and authorities. Before action is taken by the authority con cerned in the name of the Rajpramukh which formality is a Constitutional necessity	 nothing done would amount to an order creating rights or casting liabilities on third par ties. It is possible	 observed this Court	 that after ex pressing one opinion about a particular matter at a particu lar stage a Minister or Council of Ministers may express quite a different opinion which may be opposed to the earli er opinion. In such cases	 which of the two opinions can be regarded as the order of the State Government. It was held that an opinion becomes a decision of the Government only when it must be communicated to the person concerned and that this is the essence of the matter. We seek support from these observations for our purpose that notings in a notes file	 not only of officers but even that of a Minister will not constitute an order to affect others unless it is done in accordance with Article 166(1) and (2) and communicated to the person concerned. In England	 absolute privilege is given to statements made by one officer of a State to another and such state ments are protected in the context of law of defamation. Section 123 of the Evidence Act deals with privilege. We have already stated that State communications or acts of State in Public interest	 enjoy privilege and if that be so	 disclosure in such communications made to the court will not constitute either contempt or defamation. In any case such internal communications enjoy quasi privilege and a disclo sure in such communications cannot be made the basis of an action in contempt. We have seen how the High Court approached the whole question from paragraph 22 extracted early in the Judgment. It is clear that the High Court based its conclusion purely on the notings in the file. The High Court felt that the officers of the Govern 14 ment did not like the orders passed by it and this	 accord ing to the High Court	 was evident from the files before it. The High Court summed up its conclusion as follows in para graph 24 of the Judgment: "To sum up	 contempt of this Court has been committed by Shri Deo Mishra	 Legal Remem brancer	 Mrs. Radha Sinha	 I.A.S. then working as Additional Commissioner	 Irrigation Depart ment and now working as Additional Finance Commissioner	 Dr. Birkeshwar Prasad Singh	 Sanjeewan Sharma and Subh Chandra Jha and I convict them accordingly. In regard to sen tence	 I am clearly of the view that there was motivation for it. The hand of the moving spirit has	 however	 remained concealed. It appears that the feeling amongst high officers of this state is that the High Court will not punish them for contempt of the High Court	 as they are high officers and that all that the High Court will do in case of contempt of court is to give lectures and at times rant at them. To remove this misconception it is essential to impose upon them a fine of Rs.50 (Rupees fifty) each on all the five persons mentioned above	 in default to suffer simple imprisonment for two weeks. The rule issued against J.C. Kundra	 A.K.M. Nassan. A.U. Sharma and Arjun Prasad is discharged. " We see that the High Court felt that there was an at tempt on the part of the officers to disobey its orders. The officers had tendered apology. This was not accepted. We are concerned more than anyone in upholding the dignity and prestige of the High Court	 but we have a duty at the same time to lay down the law correctly. We feel that the convic tion entered by the High Court purely on the basis of the notes file cannot be justified. The High Court was under the impression that all the officers acted in unison to help the 5th respondent. We now deal with his case separately. He is described by the High Court as the Kingpin of the whole drama and according to the High Court everybody concerned acted for his benefit. There is a veiled suggestion that he would not have achieved what he wanted except with the help of political forces and that there is an un seen hand behind what he achieved. He was found guilty of abetting the contempt. According to him he has been made a scape goat	 that his is an unfortunate case of a journalist	 appointed as Public Relation Officer on ad hoc basis for six months as recom mended by a selection commit 15 tee at an interview held along with seven other candidates. He joined service after such a selection on 18 4 1983. As per the order of the High Court	 the period of six months for making the regular appointment to his post was to expire on 17 10 1983. Long before this date	 the Irrigation Depart ment had written to the Public Service Commission stating that the post held by the appellant was an ex cadre post and that concurrence may be accorded for his appointment. This was an internal letter. The Government sent a requisition to the Public Service Commission for advertising the post on 10 8 1984. The Commission ultimately made the publication on 12 5 1985 stating the eligibility and criteria for selec tion. It was this publication that promoted the filing of the writ petition in question in which the order that gave rise to the contempt proceeding was passed. Regular appoint ment pursuant to the advertisement was stayed. The appellant thus continued at the post. According to him he has not disregarded the order of the High Court. The Bihar Public Service Commission gave concur rence for his appointment for six months. The post of P.R.O. being an ex cadre post since its creation in 1955	 the post could not be filled up by giving promotion to anyone working in the department. It was constituted to interview candi dates and to recommend a suitable person. The appellant continues to function on the strength of the orders passed in his favour and he cannot be held to have committed con tempt of the High Court 's order. He has stated that he had no notice in the writ petition filed by Kripalu Shankar or the writ petition from which the present contempt arise. Though he was made a party no notice was ever issued to him and no direction was given to him by the High Court. Accord ing to him	 apart from a general observation that he abetted in disregarding the order of the High Court nothing specific has been attributed to him. His unqualified apology was also not accepted by the High Court. He also relies upon the fact that he was not paid salary from 18 10 1983 to date in re inforcement of his submission that he has not committed any contempt. With respect to the learned Judges	 we find it difficult to agree wholly with them regarding the finding that the appellant was guilty of contempt. We do not have sufficient materials before us to conclude that the appellant exercised political clout to further his interest in utter disregard of the orders of the Court. Although it may be said that the conduct of the appellant is in some measure suspect	 we do not find sufficient justification to enter a finding that he is guilty of contempt and that he acted in utter disregard of the High Court 's order. It is useful to remember that apart from the notes file	 there is no indepen 16 dent material before us to held that the appellant had committed contempt. The Government pleader and the Advocate General had clearly advised the Government to act in accord ance with the directions given by the High Court. The Minis ter who is the ultimate authority also acted in obedience to the orders of the High Court. That being so	 we find it difficult to agree with the finding that he is guilty of criminal contempt. The High Court felt that his was not a fit case to accept the unqualified apology tendered. Howev er	 we find	 that on materials placed before us	 it is not proved beyond doubt that he had committed contempt. We would	 therefore	 give him benefit of doubt and purge him of the contempt found against him. We would like to outline the general principle on which confidentiality of State documents should be protected. The general principle is that if a person is involved in litiga tion	 the Courts can order him to produce all the documents he has which relate to the issues in the case. Even if they are confidential	 the Court can direct them to be produced when the party in possession does not produce them	 for the other side to see or at any rate for the Court to see. When the Court directs production of those documents there is an implied understanding that they will not be used for any other purpose. The production of these documents in ordinary cases is imposed with a limitation that the side for whose purpose documents are summoned by the Court cannot use them for any purpose other than the one relating to the case involved. Miss Harman 's case Home office vs Harman	 may give some assistance for this aspect of our discus sion. The facts are as follows: Miss Harman	 a Solicitor	 acted for a criminal	 Michael Williams who was in prison serving a long sentence for robbery of the bank. He complained that he was subjected to cruel and unusual punishments while in prison contrary to the Bill of Rights and accordingly brought an action for damages against the Home Office. Miss Harman acted for him as a legal aid counsel. Miss Harman got an order for discov ery against the Home Office. The Home Office did not raise any objection regarding the production of the documents. However	 it objected the use of the documents by the Group	 called "The National Council for Civil Liberties". Accord ingly the documents were brought to Court and they were read out in open Court. Miss Harman passed the bundles of the documents to a journalist and a write up appeared in 'The Guardian ' which was highly critical of the Home Office. The Home 17 Office took proceedings against Miss Harman for contempt of Court. She was held guilty for contempt by the High Court and was confirmed by the Court of Appeal and by the House of Lords. In the Court of Appeal	 Lord Denning	 despite his liberal views	 while upholding the right of the Court to read documents relating to cases while conceding also the liberty to those present in Court to listen when those documents were read and the reporter to take down what was read	 did not extend to the press a right to any further use of the confidential documents or any further dissemination of their contents without the consent of the owner. It is of no use to plead the freedom of the press	 he said	 that freedom is itself subject to restriction. Public confiden tial documents	 it was said	 should be kept confidential in the public interest and should not be exposed to the ravages of outsiders. When the House of Lords ' decision in Harman vs Secretary of State for the Home Department	 upholding the Court of Appeals was rendered	 there was great hue and cry that the ruling meant "a black day for press freedom . ". Even so	 Lord Denning regretted that the Court ever ordered disclosure of the documents and observed that the "legal milestone will have to be taken up and set back a bit." In Bachittar Singh 's case (supra)	 privilege was claimed regarding the production of which was sought	 embodied the minutes of the meetings of the Council of Ministers showing the advice which the Council ultimately give to the Rajpra mukh. This Court held that these documents fell within the category of documents relating to the affairs of State within the meaning of Section 123 of the Evidence Act and were protected under the said Section. Though the ratio of this decision outlines the conservative view in the law relating to privilege	 we are not unmindful of the fact that the doctrine of privilege received a shock treatment against the State at the hands of this Court in the Judges ' case	 S.P. Gupta & Ors. vs Union of India and others etc. etc.	 [1982] 2 SCR 365. May we say that the legal milestone in Gupta 's case	 also needs a retreat	 a bit. Before parting with this case we would like to observe the need for restraint and care in dealing with the internal files of the Government. We have already indicated its privileged position and limited areas where exposure is permissible of the notings in the file. This is not to say that absolute privilege can be claimed of its exposure and protection from the view of Courts. But what is to be borne in mind is that the notings in the departmental files by the hierarchy of officials are meant for the independent dis charge of official duties and not for exposure outside. In a democracy	 it is absolutely necessary that its steel frame in the form of civil service is permitted to express itself 18 freely uninfluenced by extraneous considerations. It might well be that even orders of Court come in for adverse re marks by officers dealing with them	 confronted with diffi cult situations to straight away obey such orders. Notings made on such occasions are only for the benefit of the officers concerned. When a subordinate official commits a mistake higher official will always correct it. It is neces sary for Courts also to view such notings in the proper perspective. In this case	 the Court	 after looking into the notes file could have passed appropriate orders giving relief to the affected party and expressing its displeasure at the manner in which its order was implemented instead of initiating action on the notings made in the file. That way the Court would have enhanced its prestige. It will not serve either the healthy working of the civil service	 public interest or democratic norms to pro ceed in contempt against officials solely on the basis of minutes in the internal files	 notings which might even be unsavory or even derogatory to an order of the Court	 but which get ultimately corrected by the head of the depart ment	 ending with an order under Article 166(1) and (2) in the name of the Governor in the proper form. We are con scious of the fact that the learned Judges felt that there was a deliberate attempt to act against their order. We are not unmindful of the indignation shown by them at the not ings in the file. The only reason why we feel constrained to disagree with the High Court 's order is our anxiety to delineate the limits of judicial power while dealing with files of the Government and also of the Public Service Commission	 a high Constitutional authority. It is necessary to have mutual respect among the various wings of the admin istration	 in the process of disposal of justice. We allow these appeals and discharge the contempt orders passed by the High Court with utmost reluctance in view of the far reaching consequences that would flow if the judg ment was allowed to stand. We are happy that the appellants have tendered their regret and apology to the High Court and have reiterated their regret in this Court also. H.L.C. Appeals allowed.

The first Respondent who was discharging the functions of a Public Relations Officer in the Bihar Irrigation De partment when that post fell vacant in 1979	 filed a writ petition claiming the post for himself when another person was appointed to that post for six months. At the time of hearing	 it was represented on behalf of the State that the other person had been appointed only on ad hoc basis for a period of six months and that after the expiry of that period	 the matter would be referred to the Public Service Commission and that	 at that stage	 the case of the first Respondent would also be considered. On this assurance	 the petition was allowed to be withdrawn on 19th December	 1979. However	 the assurance was not respected and no reference was made to the Public Service Commission for making a regular appointment to the post	 and	 in April	 1983	 yet another person was appointed to the post	 again on ad hoc basis	 and the same was challenged by 'another writ peti tion. When that petition was heard	 the Advocate General informed the High Court that the appointment was only ad hoc and gave the impression that a regular appointment would be made after the expiry of six months and	 on that representa tion	 the High Court disposed of the petition on May 4	 1983	 directing inter alia	 that the post should be filled up in a regular way	 and that	 in case the appointment was not made within a period of six months	 the ad hoc appoint ment shall stand terminated. The six months ' period was to expire on October 17	 1983	 and according to the State Government	 the Irrigation Department had written to the Public Service Commission on April 4	 1983 to give concur rence to the appointment of the ad hoc incumbent since it was an ex cadre post and he had been selected by a Selection Committee but that the concurrence was given only on. April 2	 1985 and thereafter the matter was further examined with reference to the provisions of the Rules governing reserva tions and a decision was taken to send a requisition to the Public Service Commission for advertising the post. Accord ingly	 the post was advertised on May 12	 1985	 setting out the eligibility criteria for selection to the post. The 2 advertisement was challenged by yet another petition on the ground that the eligibility criteria had been so drafted as to suit only the ad hoc incumbent of the post. The High Court	 which summoned the relevant records from the Govern ment	 felt	 on their examination	 that the direction given by it while disposing of the earlier writ petition on May 4	 1983 had been disregarded	 and	 issued notices to the appel lants calling upon them to show cause why they should not be punished for contempt for ignoring the order dated May 4	 1983. The appellants expressed regret but contended that no contempt had been committed by them for the reason that expression of views in the notings made on the files	 wheth er they were right or wrong	 did not amount to contempt of Court	 as no order had been passed appointing the ad hoc incumbent after October 17	 1983. The officials of the Public Service Commission pleaded that the appointment of the ad hoc incumbent from October 18	 1983 should be treated as a fresh appointment	 that they did not know about the order passed by the High Court	 and that though concurrence was given	 it had been withdrawn when the correct facts were made known to them. The High Court	 after going through the relevant files of the State Government and the Public Service Commission came to the conclusion that	 although the State of Bihar as a juristic person was not liable for contempt for the reason that the Chief Minister had minuted that its order must be obeyed and the Chief Secretary had noted that the ad hoc incumbent should not be granted further ad hoc appointment	 the appellants	 inspire of the advice of the Advocate Gener al that taking any step to appoint the ad hoc incumbent would amount to contempt of Court	 were busy trying to find out how to ignore its earlier order. The High Court further observed that when its earlier direction was that regular appointment should be made through the Public Service Com mission	 there was no occasion for seeking the concurrence of the latter for the appointment of the ad hoc incumbent. According to the High Court	 the whole file gave the impres sion that the appellant Officers were not reconciled to the orders passed by it earlier. In these premises	 the High Court convicted the appellants for contempt and the ad hoc incumbent of the post for abetting contempt sentencing each of them to a fine of Rs.50 in default to suffer simple imprisonment for two weeks. Allowing the appeals and discharging the contempt orders passed by the High Court	 HELD: Notings made by officers in the files cannot be made the basis of contempt action against each such officer who makes the notings. [10D] 3 (i) A government functions by taking decisions on the strength of views and suggestions expressed by the various officers at different levels	 ultimately getting finality at the hands of the Minister concerned. Till then	 conflicting opinions	 views and suggestions would have emanated from various officers at the lower level. There should not be any fetter on the fearless and independent expression of opin ions by officers on matters coming before them through the files. The expression of opinion in internal files are for the use of the department and not for outside exposure or for publicity. To find officers guilty for expressing their independent opinion	 even against orders of courts in de serving cases	 would cause impediments in the smooth func tioning of the Government. [9H; 10A C] (ii) Officers of the Government are often confronted with orders of courts which are impossible of immediate compliance for various reasons. They may find it difficult to meekly submit to such orders. On such occasions	 they will necessarily have to note in the files	 the reasons why the orders cannot be complied with and also indicate that the Court would not have passed those orders if full facts were placed before them. The notings differ from officer to officer. It may well be that the notes made by a particular officer	 technically speaking	 is in disobedience of an order of the Court or may be in violation of such order	 but a more experienced officer sitting above him can always correct him. We must guard against being over sensitive	 when we come across objectionable notings made by officers	 some times out of inexperience	 some times out of over zealousness and some times out of ignorance of the nuances of the question of law involved. [11A B] (iii) The functioning of the Government in a State is governed by article 166 of the Constitution. A study of this Article makes it clear that the notings in a file get culmi nated into an order affecting rights of parties only when it reaches the head of the department and is expressed in the name of the Governor and authenticated in the manner provid ed in article 166(2). Viewed in this light	 it cannot be said that what is contained in a notes file can ever be made the basis of an action either in contempt or in defamation. The notings in a notes file do not have behind them the sanction of law as an effective order. It is only an expression of a feeling by the concerned officer on the subject under re view. To examine whether contempt is committed or not	 what has to be looked into is the ultimate order. The expression of opinion in notes file at different levels by concerned officers will not constitute Criminal Contempt; it would not constitute Civil Contempt either	 for the reason that mere expression of a view or suggestion will not bring it within the vice of sub section (c) ors. 2 of the 	 [12A E] 4 Bachhittar Singh vs State of Punjab	 [1961] Supp. 3 S.C.R. 713	 relied on. (iv) The internal notes file of the Government	 main tained according to the Rule of Business	 enjoys quasi privilege and a disclosure in such communications cannot be made the basis of an action in contempt. The general princi ple on which confidentiality of State documents should be protected is that if a person is involved in litigation	 the Courts can order him to produce all the documents he has which relate to the issues in the case. Even if they are confidential	 the Court can direct them to be produced when the party in possession does not produce them	 for the other side to see	 or	 at any rate	 for the Court to see. When the Court directs production of these documents there is an implied understanding that they will not be used for any other purpose. The production of these documents in ordinary cases is imposed with a limitation that the side for whose purpose documents are summoned by the Court cannot use them for any purpose other than the one relating to the case involved. [10E F] Home Office vs Harman	 ; Harman vs Secretary of State for the Home Department	 and S.P. Gupta ' vs Union of India	 [1982] 2 S.C.R. 365	 referred to. (v) In this case	 the Court	 after looking into the notes file could have passed appropriate orders giving relief to the affected party and expressing its displeasure at the manner in which its order was implemented instead of initiating action on the notings made in the file. That way the Court would have enhanced its prestige. [18B C]