January 12, 2026 06:08 am (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
IPAC raid row escalates! ED drags Mamata Banerjee to Supreme Court after High Court chaos | 'Easy way or hard way': Trump doubles down on controversial push to acquire Greenland | Hindu tenant farmer shot dead in Pakistan’s Sindh, sparks massive protests | India vs NYC Mayor: MEA hits back after Mamdani backs jailed activist Umar Khalid | US Commerce Secretary blames India for trade deal failure: 'Modi didn’t call Trump' | Jana Nayagan controversy: Madras HC steps in, orders CBFC to clear Vijay film | Telecom shakeup: Vodafone Idea shares soar as AGR dues finally sorted | Dragged by police outside Amit Shah’s office! 8 TMC MPs detained as ED row explodes | Trump backs bill threatening 500% tariffs on India over Russian oil trade | ED alleges Mamata 'forcibly removed documents' during IPAC raids, CM calls Amit Shah 'nasty Home Minister'

Top court upholds validity of criminal defamation laws

| | May 13, 2016, at 06:30 pm
#Supreme Court # criminal defamation laws # Arvind Kejriwal # Rahul Gandhi
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.
Related Images
In Images: Mamata Banerjee leads rally in Kolkata against ED raids on I-PAC
In Images: Mamata Banerjee leads rally in Kolkata against ED raids on I-PAC Jan 09, 2026, at 07:10 pm
In Images: Tata Steel Chess India begins in Kolkata
In Images: Tata Steel Chess India begins in Kolkata Jan 06, 2026, at 11:28 pm
In Images: PM inaugurates Buddha relics exposition in New Delhi
In Images: PM inaugurates Buddha relics exposition in New Delhi Jan 04, 2026, at 12:33 am
Related Videos
#bangladesh: Hindu Man Lynched, Set Ablaze as Islamist Mob Runs Riot After Youth Leader’s Killing Dec 22, 2025, at 04:31 pm
PM #Modi witnesses soulful rendition of #vandemataram by Ethiopian singers in #Ethiopia Dec 22, 2025, at 04:30 pm
Moment Sydney Bondi beach shooter was disarmed by brave man in civilian clothes Dec 22, 2025, at 04:29 pm