Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, a judicial proceeding— (a) is said to be pending— (A) in the case of a civil proceeding, when it is instituted by the filing of a plaint or otherwise, (B) in the case of a criminal proceeding Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898), or any other law— under the Code of Criminal (i) where it relates to the commission of an offence, when the charge-sheet or challan is filed, or when the court issues summons or warrant, as the case may be, against the accused, and (ii) in any other case, when the court takes cognizance of the matter to which the proceeding relates, and in the case of a civil or criminal proceeding, shall be deemed to continue to be pending until it is heard and finally decided, that is to say, in a case where an appeal or revision is competent, until the appeal or revision is heard and finally decided or, where no appeal or revision is preferred, until the period of limitation prescribed for such appeal or revision has expired; (b) which has been heard and finally decided shall not be deemed to be pending merely by reason of the fact that proceedings for the execution of the decree, order or sentence passed therein are pending. 4. Fair and accurate report of judicial proceeding not contempt.—Subject to the provisions contained in section 7, a person shall not be guilty of contempt of court for publishing a fair and accurate report of a judicial proceeding or any stage thereof. 5. Fair criticism of judicial act not contempt.—A person shall not be guilty of contempt of court for publishing any fair comment on the merits of any case which has been heard and finally decided. 6. Complaint against presiding officers of subordinate courts when not contempt.—A person shall not be guilty of contempt of court in respect of any statement made by him in good faith concerning the presiding officer of any subordinate court to— (a) any other subordinate court, or (b) the High Court, to which it is subordinate. Explanation.—In this section, “subordinate court” means any court subordinate to a High Court. 7. Publication of information relating to proceedings in chambers or in camera not contempt except in certain cases.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, a person shall not be guilty of contempt of court for publishing a fair and accurate report of a judicial proceeding before any court sitting in chambers or in camera except in the following cases, that is to say,— (a) where the publication is contrary to the provisions of any enactment for the time being in force; (b) where the court, on grounds of public policy or in exercise of any power vested in it, expressly prohibits the publication of all information relating to the proceeding or of information of the description which is published; (c) where the court sits in chambers or in camera for reasons connected with public order or the security of the State, the publication of information relating to those proceedings; (d) where the information relates to a secret process, discovery or invention which is an issue in proceedings. (2) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), a person shall not be guilty of contempt of court for publishing the text or a fair and accurate summary of the whole, or any part, of an order made by a court sitting in chambers or in camera, unless the court has expressly prohibited the 3