January 07, 2025 11:50 pm (IST)
Follow us:
Top court upholds validity of criminal defamation laws
New Delhi, May 13 (IBNS) The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the constitutional validity of criminal defamation laws, which, curiously, were challenged by rival politicians, including Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi and his family's chief baiter, the BJP's Subramanian Swamy.
According to reports, the top court said, "we have to strike a balance between fundamental rights to freedom of speech and the reputation of an individual."
Questioning the constitutional validity of sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, which provide for criminal defamation, the petitioners argued that the provisions under these sections are not needed as the Constitution's Article 19(2) imposes reasonable restriction on freedom of speech and expression.
The petitioners said the defamation law has been misused by politicians to gag rivals and the media.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, Tamil Nadu's Captain Vijaykanth and several journalists who have been sued for defamation followed with petitions challenging the criminal defamation laws.
The Centre had told the court that defamation cases are decided very fast in other countries like Britain, while in India, they take years, even decades.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Centre announces memorial for Pranab Mukherjee, his daughter thanks PM Modi for 'gracious gesture'
Tue, Jan 07 2025
Amit Shah launches BHARATPOL that can usher new era in India's international investigation
Tue, Jan 07 2025
Arvind Kejriwal launches AAP's campaign song for Delhi elections
Tue, Jan 07 2025
Maldives Defence Minister Mohammed Ghassan Maumoon to meet Rajnath Singh tomorrow months after Indian troops left Male
Tue, Jan 07 2025
Narendra Modi, Jake Sullivan assess advancement in India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in past four years
Tue, Jan 07 2025
Delhi assembly elections on Feb 5, results on Feb 8
Tue, Jan 07 2025
Allu Arjun visits boy injured during Pushpa 2 stampede in Hyderabad
Tue, Jan 07 2025
Election Commission to announce Delhi poll date at 2 pm today
Tue, Jan 07 2025