New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine whether corporate bodies have the right to initiate criminal defamation proceedings. The issue came up because Priya Pillai, an activist associated with Greenpeace India, moved the apex court questioning initiation of a criminal defamation case against her by Essar Power MP Ltd . Earlier, a bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C. Pant had upheld the criminal defamation law which checks the unfettered right to damage reputation. Advocate Shyam Divan, who appeared for Pillai, said that since corporates do not have the right to life they cannot initiate criminal defamation proceedings. Under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, defamation is a criminal offence.

Source: Mint September 05, 2016 10:07 UTC