{"id":54970,"date":"2025-09-23T20:26:50","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T14:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=54970"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:41:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T10:11:52","slug":"decriminalize-defamation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/23-09-2025\/decriminalize-defamation","title":{"rendered":"Need To Decriminalise Defamation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Polity &amp; Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recently, the Supreme Court of India has remarked that it is \u2018high time\u2019 to\u00a0 reconsider the criminalisation of defamation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Defamation in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It refers to any spoken, written, or published statement that harms the reputation of an individual or group.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It can be<strong> directed at both living persons and the deceased<\/strong>, where harm to the family or immediate relatives is considered relevant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Two Forms:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Libel (written):<\/strong> Defamatory statements in a permanent form (e.g., writing, images, publications);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Slander (spoken):<\/strong> Spoken or transient defamatory statements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Legal Status:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Civil Defamation<\/strong>: It is <strong>governed by tort law<\/strong>, allowing the aggrieved party <strong>to seek monetary compensation<\/strong> for reputational harm.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Criminal Defamation:<\/strong> It is codified under <strong>Section 356 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. <\/strong>It prescribes up to two years of imprisonment, a fine, or both.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Arguments for Decriminalisation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Freedom of Speech &amp; Expression (Article 19(1)(a)): <\/strong>Criminal defamation chills free expression and press freedom.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Writers, journalists, and critics risk imprisonment merely for voicing dissent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Criminal defamation<\/strong> was introduced by the British in the 19th century <strong>to curb nationalist voices.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>22nd Law Commission of India (2023 Report):<\/strong> It recommended retaining criminal defamation, arguing that reputation is a lifelong asset that deserves legal protection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disproportionate Punishment:<\/strong> Imprisonment for speech-related offences is excessive when civil remedies exist.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It can discourage investigative journalism and whistleblowing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Misuse by Political Class:<\/strong> Cases often target dissenters, media, and whistleblowers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International Standards:<\/strong> The <strong>UN Human Rights Committee<\/strong> and global free speech bodies recommend decriminalisation.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Criminal penalties for speech are inconsistent with <strong>International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) standards<\/strong> (to which <strong>India is a signatory<\/strong>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Arguments Against Decriminalisation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Protection of Reputation (Article 21):<\/strong> The Supreme Court (2016, <em>Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India<\/em>) upheld criminal defamation, holding that reputation is an integral part of the right to life.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hence, balancing free speech with dignity requires a deterrent mechanism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Civil Remedies May Be Inadequate: <\/strong>Lengthy and expensive litigation and compensation claims may not offer effective protection, especially for ordinary citizens without resources.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Criminal prosecution provides quicker relief and stronger deterrence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection Against Irresponsible Speech: <\/strong>In the digital era, defamatory content spreads rapidly and irreversibly.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Criminal law acts as a stronger deterrent against malicious falsehoods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Checks on Media &amp; Political Speech: <\/strong>While press freedom is vital, <strong>unchecked allegations and slander<\/strong> could damage reputations beyond repair.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The government\u2019s stance emphasizes safeguarding individuals from reckless media trials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indian Social Context: <\/strong>In a society where reputation directly impacts livelihood, marriages, and community standing, criminal defamation is seen as necessary for protection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Gradual Decriminalisation:<\/strong> Replace imprisonment with fines or community service.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Civil Law Strengthening:<\/strong> Fast-track civil defamation cases and provide reasonable caps on damages.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Safeguards for Reputation:<\/strong> Introduce mediation and apology mechanisms before litigation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Community Service: <\/strong>It was introduced by <strong>Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 <\/strong>as an <strong>alternative punishment <\/strong>aiming <strong>to reduce the punitive burden<\/strong> while safeguarding victims\u2019 rights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/supreme-court-judge-says-its-high-time-to-decriminalise-defamation\/article70079931.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Source: TH<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Recently, the Supreme Court of India has remarked that it is \u2018high time\u2019 to\u00a0 reconsider the criminalisation of defamation.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>About Defamation in India<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">It refers to any spoken, written, or published statement that harms the reputation of an individual or group.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">It can be directed at both living persons and the deceased, where harm to the family or immediate relatives is considered relevant.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/23-09-2025\/decriminalize-defamation\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":54997,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/09\/decriminalize-defamation.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54970"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54970\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54984,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54970\/revisions\/54984"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}