Law Commission Recommends Continued Inclusion of Criminal Defamation in Indian Legal Framework

The Law Commission has recommended the retention of criminal defamation within the framework of criminal laws in India.

In its report addressing criminal defamation laws, the panel emphasized that the right to reputation, derived from Article 21 of the Constitution, is an integral aspect of the right to life and personal liberty. The commission highlighted the necessity to “adequately protect” this right against defamatory speech and imputations.

“Reputation is something which can’t be seen and can only be earned. It’s an asset built in a lifetime and destroyed in seconds. The entire jurisprudence surrounding the law on criminal defamation carries the essence of protecting one’s reputation and its facets,” stated the report.