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What is the Punishment for Defamation?

Last updated on Sep 8, 2022

If you say or write something to insult the reputation of a person, group of people or a company, a court can punish you for defamation. When the insult is to a group of people, the court should be able to identify this class or group of people.

If you harm the reputation of someone who is dead, the court can still punish you for defamation. The Court will look at whether:

  • you would have harmed the person’s reputation if they were alive, and
  • if you  hurt the feelings of their family or relatives.

The deceased person’s legal representatives or relatives can file the case on their behalf.

The punishment for defamation, in such cases, is jail time up to 2 years and/or a fine.

Printing or engraving something harmful to a person’s reputation and selling or trying to sell printed or engraved defamatory material are also criminal acts. The court can punish you with jail time of up to 2 years and/or with fine.

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