Wijsmuller Salvage B.V. and Sri Lanka Shipping Company Limited vs. The Bangladesh Motor Vessel and Midlands Shipping lines Limited – SC APPEAL 87/2011-2011

In the case between Wijsmuller Salvage B.V. and Sri Lanka Shipping Company Limited (as Plaintiffs/Petitioners) and The Bangladesh Motor Vessel “M.V. JAMMI” and Midlands Shipping Lines Limited (as Defendants/Respondents), the court addressed whether a breach of an undertaking given to court—not to seek disbursement of a vessel’s sale proceeds—constitutes contempt of court. It was held that sufficient material existed to consider such conduct as potential contempt, resulting in the prior judgment of the Court of Appeal being set aside, with directions for a rehearing of the contempt application. The court reaffirmed the principle that parties must uphold undertakings provided to court, emphasizing the seriousness of breaches that undermine the court’s authority. Reference was made to establi