IPC Section 500
IPC Section 500 – Punishment for Defamation
Purpose
This section provides the punishment for the offence of defamation, which is defined under Section 499 IPC. It protects a person’s reputation against false or harmful statements made by others.
Provision
Whoever defames another person,
Shall be punished with:
Simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years, OR
Fine, OR
Both.
Key Points
Defamation (Sec 499 IPC) → Making or publishing any statement (spoken, written, signs, or visible representations) that harms another person’s reputation.
Section 500 IPC → Prescribes the punishment for such defamation.
Nature of offence:
It is bailable (accused can get bail as a matter of right).
It is non-cognizable (police cannot register an FIR without court’s permission).
It is compoundable (can be settled between the parties with court permission).
Triable by a Magistrate of the first class.
Example
A person falsely publishes in a newspaper that his neighbor is a thief, without proof.
The neighbor’s reputation in society is harmed.
The neighbor can file a complaint of defamation.
If found guilty, the accused can be sentenced under Section 500 IPC to up to 2 years imprisonment or fine or both.
In Short
Section 500 IPC gives punishment for defamation.
Punishment = up to 2 years simple imprisonment, or fine, or both.
It protects individuals from false, malicious attacks on reputation.
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