Prosecution for Defamation: Understanding Section 222 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
This research examines the prosecution of defamation under Section 222 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which is a replacement for the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. Section 222 prescribes procedural requirements, requiring complaints by aggrieved persons for offences under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, except in the case of incapacitated persons. It weighs individual reputation against free speech, incorporating streamlined procedures within India’s new-age criminal justice system. This examination identifies significant provisions, protective procedures, and their implications on legal practice, providing a thorough understanding of defamation prosecution in modern India.