On Friday the Supreme Court said that the current criminal defamation law is constitutionally valid, the court dismissed the petitions which said that it has a chilling effect on free speech.
Section 499 and 500 of Indian Penal Code makes defamation a criminal offence. According to it, a person’s right to freedom has to be balanced with other person’s right to reputation and so the two sections are very important. The Court further said that the petition was filed by a crew of politicians which also includes the vice-president of congress, Rahul Gandhi.
As Rahul Gandhi has been charged with criminal defamation under section 499 and 500 of IPC for the political speech made by him in Tamil Nadu, Arvind Kejriwal is also facing the cases under same provisions.
The petitioners had already argued that the criminal defamation is beyond the constitution’s article 19(2) which imposes reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression.
Submitted by:- JASJIT PRANJAL.
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