Defamation

DEFAMATION
1. “Every man has right to have his reputation preserved inviolate”-

Blackstones.
2 . Blackstones -This right of reputation is acknowledged as an inherent

personal right of every person as part of the right of personal security.
3. Winfield- “Defamation is the publication of a statement which tends to

lower a person in the estimation of right thinking member of the society
generally.”
4. Salmond- “Defamation is the publication of a false and defamatory

statement concerning another person without lawful justification”
5. Bhagwat Gita-” For a man of honour, defamation is worse than

death.”
6. It is a right in rem- a right good against all the world.
7. It is an injury to the reputation of a person.
8. A man’s reputation is his property, more valuable

than other property.
9. It is both criminal offence as well as civil wrong.
10. S-499 IPC- “Defamation is the wrong done by a person to

another’s reputation by words, signs or visible representation.”
11. Type of Defamation- (a) LIBEL and (b) SLANDER

Distinction between Libel and Slander-
1. Libel is a publication of a false and defamatory statement tending to

injure the reputation of another person without any lawful
justification of excuse. Slander is a false and defamatory statement by
spoken words or gesture tending to injure the reputation of another.
2. Libel is written defamation addressed to eye as well to ear. Slander is

spoken addressed to ear only.
3. Libel is in some permanent form(written or printed). Slander is in a

transient form ( spoken or gesture).
4. Libel is both civil and criminal offence and slander is only civil wrong.
In English law slander is no offence. In India both are offence.
5. A slander may be uttered in the heat of the moment and under
sudden provocation. But Libel is not so.
6. A Libel conduces to a breach of peace but a slander does not.
7. Libel is actionable per se(without any proof). Slander Except

in certain following cases special damage is required.
(a) Imputation of criminal offence to the plaintiff
(b) Imputation of a contagious or infectious disease to the
plaintiff.
(c) Imputation that the person is incompetent, dishonest or
unfit in regards to the office, profession, trade, business carried
on by him.
(d) Imputation of unchastity / adultery to any girl/women
Essentials of Defamation
1. The statement must be defamatory
2. The said statement must refer to the plaintiff
3. The statement must be published.
Defamatory statement
 Statement which tends to injure the reputation of plaintiff.
 Imputation which expose one to disgrace and humiliation.
 Such statement may be-
Oral
In writing
Printed
Picture
By some conduct
Cases-DP Choudhury v. Manjulata AIR 1997 Raj- Running away in the name of night classes-
published in Dainik Novjyoti of Jodhpur-Held defamation and Rs. One lakh awarded as damages.
Morrison v. Rithhie & Co(1902) – birth of twins-held defamation.
Statement must be defamatory
• Tends to injure reputation
• An imputation which exposes one to disgrace
and humiliation, ridicule or contempt, is
defamatory.
• Standard of a right minded citizen.
• Essence of defamation is injury to a person’s
character or reputation.
D.P. Choudhary v. Manjulata
Ram Jethmalani v. Subramaniam swamy
•While a Commission of inquiry was examining the facts and circumstances relating to
the assassination of Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi , the defendant, at a press conference,
alleged that the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had prior information that LTTE
cadre would make an assassination bid on the life of late Shri Rajiv Gandhi.
•The plaintiff was engaged as a senior counsel to represent the then Chief Minister of
Tamil Nadu.
•In discharge of his professional duties, the plaintiff cross-examined the defendant.
•During the proceeding, the defendant in the written conclusive submission alleged
that the plaintiff had been receiving money from LTTE, a banned organization.
•The statement made by the defendant was held to be ex facie defamatory.

• It was held to be a case of exceeding the privilege
and that by itself was held to be evidence of
malice. The statement made by the defendant
against the plaintiff was held to be quite
unconnected with and irrelevant to the situation,
actual malice on the part of the defendant was well
established. Counting the professional standing of
the plaintiff and his statue in social life, the Delhi
High Court awarded damages of Rs. 5 Lacks.
The Innuendo
Sometimes the statement may prima facie be innocent but because

of some latent or secondary meaning it may be considered to be
defamatory.
 In natural and ordinary meaning it is not defamatory.
 Plaintiff must prove if he wants to bring an action.
1. The of latent and secondary meaning and
2. Evidence of defamation.
 Cases-
Morrison v. Rithhie & Co(1902) – birth of twins-held defamation.
Cassidy v. Daily Mirror Newspaper Ltd (1929) KB 331
Tolley v. JS Fry (1931)AC 333-Unmarried mother- alike father-
held Innuendo.
2. Statement must refer to the plaintiff
To get succeed the plaintiff has to prove.

Cases-
Hulton Co. v. Jones (1990) AC 20-Publication of a fictional article on
morals in Sunday Chronicle in the name of a person Artemus Jones, a
churchwarden at Pekham - a barrister of same name bought an action-
held libel.
Newstead v. London Express Newspaper Ltd (1939) All ER 391-
Publication of an article that plaintiff had been convicted of bigamy- this
was true but action was bought by another person of same name- held libel
Eastwood V. Homes (1858)- “All lawyers are thieves.”-No libel till not
pointing to a particular lawyer.
Dhirendra Nath Sen V. RK Bhadra AIR 1970 Cal 216-defamation of a
spiritual head of a community – an editorial in newspaper – an individual
of that community does not have a right of action.
3. The Statement must be published
Publication means making the defamatory matters known to some

person other than the person defamed.
 Communication to the plaintiff himself is not enough because it is
injury to reputation.
 Cases-
Pullman v. Hill (1891) QB 524-Dictating a letter to one’s typist is
enough publication.
Theaker v. Richardson (1962) All ER 299- If defamatory letter sent
to the plaintiff is likely to read by someone else, there is publication.
Example- post card, Telegram, Facebook-?, Web sites-?
Mahendra ram v. harnandan prasad AIR 1958 Pat 445-
Defamatory Letter in Urdu- read by third person- held no libel.
Defences of Defamation
1. Justification of Truth
2. Fair comment
3. Privileged
(a) Absolute and
(b) Qualified privileged
Justification of Truth
Radheshyam Tewari v. Eknath AIR 1985 Bom- Defamation of BDO-
defendant held liable as he could not prove.
Salenadandasi v. Gajjala Malla Reddy AIR 2009(NOC) AP-Rape of a
harijan lady by an advocate-held defamation.
 When one portion of statement is true and another is untrue- No
provision in India.
Fair Comment-
Making fair comment on matters of public good is a defence(damnum sine
injuria). And it should not be based on Malice
Essential of this defence
1. It must be a comment-expression of Opinion
2. The comment must be fair
3. It must be of public good
Privilege
Folkard- Privilege means a person stands in such relation to the facts of the case
that he is justified in saying or writing what would be slanderous or libelous.
 Defamatory statements are not actionable if privileged.
 It is of two type.
1. Absolute Privilege and
2. Qualified Privilege
Absolute Privilege
No action lies for the defamatory statement even though
the statement is false or has been made maliciously.
Occasions of Absolute Privilege
1. Parliamentary proceedings –Art 105(2)
2. Judicial proceedings
3. Military and naval Proceedings
4. State proceedings
Underlying Objects
5. The common convenience and welfare of society or
the general interest of society
6. Give way to freedom of speech
Qualified Privilege
If a communication is privileged then statement made without malice is
protected.
 Essentials
1. The statement was made on a privileged occasion- i.e. in discharge of duty.
2. The statement was made without any Malice.
 Radheshyam Tiwary v. Eknath AIR 1985 Bom 424-
BDO case
 RK Karajia v. Thackersay AIR 1970 Bom 424- Tax evasion case-editor
held liable.
 The Parliament Proceedings( Protection of Publication) Act 1977 –
gives such privileges.
 This defence can be refuted by the plaintiff unlike AP.
Distinguish between Absolute and Qualified Privilege

REMEDIES FOR DEFAMATION
1. A Criminal prosecution and
2. A civil suit for damages
Under civil suit
(a) Damages-Compensatory damages
(b)Injunction-s-38 and 39 of the specific relief
Act 1963

Defamation

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What are the different types of defamation?

What are the different types of defamation?

What are the essential elements of the defence of fair comment?

What are the essential elements of the defence of fair comment?

DEFAMATION

1. “Every man has right to have his reputation preserved inviolate”-

2 . Blackstones -This right of reputation is acknowledged as an inherent

3. Winfield- “Defamation is the publication of a statement which tends to

4. Salmond- “Defamation is the publication of a false and defamatory

5. Bhagwat Gita-” For a man of honour, defamation is worse than

7. It is an injury to the reputation of a person.

8. A man’s reputation is his property, more valuable

9. It is both criminal offence as well as civil wrong.

10. S-499 IPC- “Defamation is the wrong done by a person to

11. Type of Defamation- (a) LIBEL and (b) SLANDER

1. Libel is a publication of a false and defamatory statement tending to

2. Libel is written defamation addressed to eye as well to ear. Slander is

3. Libel is in some permanent form(written or printed). Slander is in a

6. A Libel conduces to a breach of peace but a slander does not.

7. Libel is actionable per se(without any proof). Slander Except

•The statement made by the defendant was held to be ex facie defamatory.

Sometimes the statement may prima facie be innocent but because

To get succeed the plaintiff has to prove.

Publication means making the defamatory matters known to some

Distinguish between Absolute and Qualified Privilege

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