- It highlighted that reputation flows from Article 21, and being a facet of right to life and personal liberty, needs to be adequately protected against defamatory speech and imputations.
- Defamation is considered a reasonable restriction under Article 19(2) to the freedom of speech and expression in Article 19(1)(a)
- Defamation is any false statement published or spoken deliberately, intentionally, knowingly with the intention to damage someone’s reputation.
- In India, defamation is categorized as either criminal or civil.
- Under criminal defamation, individuals can be charged with an offence punishable by imprisonment or a fine.
- Civil defamation, on the other hand, involves filing a lawsuit seeking compensation for damages caused by defamatory statements.
- In India, defamation is categorized as either criminal or civil.
- Legal and constitutional Provisions of Criminal Defamation
- The Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 has comprehensive provisions pertaining to criminal defamation from Section 499-502.
- Section 499: deals with overall definition of defamation.
- Section 500: deals with punishment upto 2 years imprisonment or fine or both.
- The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 adds community service as punishment as well.
- Section 124A of IPC includes defamation against the state as an offence of Sedition.
- The Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 has comprehensive provisions pertaining to criminal defamation from Section 499-502.
Supreme Court (SC) Judgements
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