It is an established principle of law that the offence of defamation (harming the reputation) has many exceptions and the imputation of truth is one of those, but the accused must prove that such imputation was true and also for the public good. In the light of this statement which of the following questions/statements are not defamatory? (Answer the question after reading the following paragraph.)

The bench of Dr DY Chandrachud and MR Shah, JJ has refused to transfer to CBI the criminal cases lodged against Republic TV Editor in-Chief Arnab Goswami for alleged defamatory news show telecast on April 21 in connection with the Palghar mob-lynching case. It also quashed all FIRs against Arnab Goswami except one which was filed in Nagpur and which has been transferred to Mumbai via order dated 24.04.2020.

[Excerpt from SCC Online Blog, May 19, 2020]

Delivering the verdict, Justice Chandrachud said, ― Article 32 of the Constitution constitutes recognition of the constitutional duty entrusted to this Court to protect the fundamental rights of citizens. The exercise of journalistic freedom lies at the core of speech and expression protected by Article 19(1)(a). The petitioner is a media journalist. The airing of views on television shows which he hosts is in the exercise of his fundamental right to speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). India‟s freedoms will rest safe as long as journalists can speak truth to power without being chilled by a threat of reprisal…Free citizens cannot exist when the news media is chained to adhere to one position. Yuval Noah Harari has put it succinctly in his recent book titled “21 Lessons for the 21st Century”: “Questions you cannot answer are usually far better for you than answers you cannot question.”

[Excerpt from Arnab Ranjan Goswami vs Union Of India on 19 May, 2020]

Option A: An article published in a newspaper about the unaccounted property of a public servant in the form of a questionnaire.

Option B: A question to a female actress about her sexual relationship with a married man.

Option C: A question to a public servant about his extramarital relationship with a colleague.

Option D: An Article published in a magazine stating a female politician as ‘B grade’ actress.

Correct Answer

Option: a

Explanation

Chapter XXI, Section 499 of IPC describes Defamation

Sample Mock Tests for Practice

SAMPLE PAPER 01

THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, 1949 (PAPER – 14 Q. NO. 456 TO 490)

THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, 1949 (PAPER – 04 Q. NO. 106 TO 140)

THE MADHYA PRASESH LAND REVENUE CODE, 1959 (PAPER 01 Q. NO. 1 TO 30)

BIHAR LOWER JUDICIAL SERVICES EXAM 2020

AILET – National Law University Delhi Entrance Test (NLU 2013)

THE LAW OF TORTS (PAPER 01 Q. NO. 1 TO 45)

THE HIMACHAL PRADESH URBAN RENT CONTROL ACT, 1987 (PAPER 01 Q. NO. 1 TO 30)

THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT, 1882 (PAPER 03 Q.NO. 81 TO 120)

AILET – National Law University Delhi Entrance Test (NLU 2014)

THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973 (PAPER – 02 Q. NO. 41 TO 80)

THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, 1949 (PAPER – 17 Q. NO. 561 TO 595)

THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, 1949 (PAPER – 03 Q. NO. 71 TO 105)

THE INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES ACT, 1947 (PAPER 01 Q. NO. 1 TO 15)

The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (Paper 01: Q. 1 to 25)

THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, 1949 (PAPER – 09 Q. NO. 281 TO 315)

HIMACHAL PARDESH LOWER JUDICIAL SERVICES 2007-1

THE INDIAN CONTRACT ACT, 1872 (PAPER – 18 Q. NO. 596 TO 636)

THE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, 1973 (PAPER – 06 Q. NO. 201 TO 240)

G.K. PUNJABI – 01 GGSSS BNL

THE LAW OF TORTS (PAPER 03 Q. NO. 91 TO 135)

UTTARAKHAND LOWER JUDICIAL SERVICES 2022

THE MUSLIM PERSONAL LAWS (PAPER 01 Q. NO. 1 TO 29)

THE INDIAN EVIDENCE ACT, 1872 (PAPER – 11 Q. NO. 401 TO 440)

DELHI LOWER JUDICIARY 2011

THE INDIAN EVIDENCE ACT, 1872 (PAPER – 18 Q. NO. 681 TO 720)

DELHI LOWER JUDICIAL SERVICES 2022

THE SALE OF GOODS ACT, 1930 (PAPER – 01 Q. NO. 1 TO 35)

THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT, 1882 (PAPER 09 Q.NO. 321 TO 345)

THE HINDU ADOPTION AND MAINTENANCE ACT, 1956 (PAPER 02 Q. NO. 31 TO 39)

THE ARBITRATION AND CONCILIATION ACT, 1996 (PAPER 04 Q. NO. 91 TO 116)

AILET – National Law University Delhi Entrance Test (NLU 2016)

THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY ACT, 1882 (PAPER 04 Q.NO. 121 TO 160)

THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, 1908 (PAPER – 12 Q. NO. 441 TO 480)

THE INDIAN CONTRACT ACT, 1872 (PAPER – 09 Q. NO. 281 TO 315)

THE INDIAN CONTRACT ACT, 1872 (PAPER – 05 Q. NO. 141 TO 175)