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Defamation

Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee

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What is Defamation Defamation or taking away the fame

from someone, is an offencepunishable with imprisonment fromthe earliest times of civilgovernment.

Kautilyas Artha Sastra mentions itand has prescribed punishment.

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Defamation laws in India There is no separate law of

defamation in India.

The Indian Penal Code (IPC) has foursections (Section 499-502) whichdefine elaborately what constitutesdefamation and what the defencesand punishments are.

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Ingredients of Defamation An imputation concerning the person

must have been made Such imputation must have harmed, or

there is reason to believe that it has thetendency to harm, the reputation of theperson concerning whom it is made.

Imputation means an accusation against a personand implies an allegation of fact and not merely aterm of abuse or insult. To put it simply, imputationmeans to accuse someone for committing someirregularities with suggestion of proofs.

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Kinds of Defamation Two kinds

Verbal- slander

Written- libel

Both the offences are punishable underthe same section of IPC

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Civil and Criminal action Defamation gives rise to civil and

criminal action The object of civil action is to

adequately compensate the persondefamed; the object of criminalaction is to punish the offender.

There is no civil action if defamationis of the spoken word.

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Civil and criminal liability Intention is irrelevant in civil liability for

defamation. Truth of the statement is completedefence to a civil action for defamation

In criminal law intention is essential for liability.Good faith is a defence in criminal law. But truthas such is no defence in criminal proceedingsexcept under the first exception to Sec. 499 ofIPC. It is necessary to prove further that thedefamatory publication is for the public good.

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Not alternative, but cumulative The aggrieved person can bring a

civil suit and also make a complaintbefore a criminal court at the sametime.

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Journalistic Defences

Justification Fair comment

Privilege Apology

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Journalistic Defences: Justification

Justification: the statement is true. Truth of the

imputation by itself is not sufficient in a

criminal proceeding. Public good must havebeen involved. But in a civil suit truth is acomplete defence.

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Journalistic Defences: Fair comment

Fair comment Fair comment on a matter of public

interest does not amount to libel. In a plea

of fair comment three points arise:1. The comment relates to a matter of public

interest2. It is only a comment and not a statement

of fact3. The comment is fair.

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Journalistic Defences: Privilege

Absolute Privilege Reports of Parliamentary proceedings and

State legislature are protected by Art 361 A Qualified Privilege

Newspaper report of court proceedings Publication of statements relating to affairs

of the state and reports of public meetingsare also given qualified privilege.

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Journalistic Defences: Apology No good journalist likes to tender

apology.

Therefore is the need to be carefulbefore publishing the report.

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Good faith and Public good Good Faith: A news story is deemed to be

done in good faith if it is done honestlyand due care has been taken in

ascertaining facts and figures. Public Good: A news story is said to be

for public good if it has rendered orsought to render some benefit to thesociety

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Who may file complaints? Normally only the agg r ieved p erso n* Or somebody on behalf of as minor, idiot,

infirm person or a woman observingpurdah, etc. Sec. 199(1)

Sec 199(2) offers an exception in the case ofdignitaries such as President, Vice-President,Governor, Minister, and Public servants. Thereis special procedure laid down in such casesand the public prosecutor is permitted to makea complaint.

Aggrieved person postulates that the person is orare identifiable.

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Who may be sued? The proprietor, Editor, Author,

Publisher and Printer of a newspaperor journal would be jointly andseparately liable for any defamatorymatter published. The aggrievedperson may sue any one of themsingly.

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Liabilities of different persons Reporter: is liable like printer, publisher,

editor, if he sends some work which isdefamatory in character.

Editor: is individually liable for any illegalmatter published in his paper, magazine,etc.

Publisher: is liable for anything publishedin his paper, magazine, etc which isdefamatory.

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Liabilities of different persons Printer: is individually liable for

printing of objectionable matter.

Proprietor: can be made liable forany matter published in his paper,magazine, etc only if there's positiveproof that he was responsible forpublishing it or for its selection forpublication.

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Liabilities of different persons Author:of an article or book, is

primarily liable for any illegality inthe work like obscenity, defamation.

Contributor: would be liable if thearticle contributed by him have legaldiscrepancy.

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Liabilities of different persons News - Vendor / Bookseller: Under Civil

Law a Bookseller is not liable fordefamatory publication of material sold by

him unless he actually knew it wasdefamatory, or he could have with duediligence, come to know that it wasdefamatory. Under Criminal Law IPC Sec502, he shall be liable only if he knewabout defamatory property of the materialhe sold at the time of selling it.

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Time frame Complaint should be lodged within

three years of the date ofcommission of the offence.

Except where the delay has been condonedu/s 471 of the Cr.PC

In case of dignitaries, publicservants, etc. the limitation for filingthe complaint by the PublicProsecutor is six months.

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Punishment for Defamation Simple imprisonment for a term

which may extend to two years orfine or both. Sec. 500

Printing (Sec. 501) and Sale (Sec.502) of defamatory matter attractsame punishment.

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Damages in a civil suit Damages depend on the assessment

of the reputation of that person bythe judge.

Principles laid down by case laws: Nature of imputation Mode of publication Social standing of the defamed person Mitigating circumstances

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Further Information

Defamation in the IPC Bare act http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/non_version/cgi-

bin/cgi_getdata.pl?actno=1872-REVED-

224&doctitle=PENAL%20CODE%0A&date=late&segid=888373003-003424 Information Technology Act, 2000 Cyber

defamation http://www.cca.gov.in/documents/act2000mod.

pdf

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