Defamation and punishment for the crime are defined under Section 500, 501 and 502 of Indian Penal Code 1860. Classification of offences relating to this section is:
CHAPTER XXI - DEFAMATION
| IPC Section |
Offence |
Punishment |
Cognizable or non-cognizable |
Bailable or non-bailable |
By what court triable |
| 500 IPC |
Defamation against the President or the Vice-President or the Governor of a State or Administrator of a Union territory or a Minister in respect of his conduct in the discharge of his public functions when instituted upon a complaint made by the Public Prosecutor |
Simple Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both |
Non-cognizable |
Bailable |
Court of Session |
| Defamation in any other case |
Simple Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both |
Non-cognizable |
Bailable |
Magistrate of the first class |
|
| 501 IPC |
(a) Printing or engraving matter knowing it to be defamatory against the President of the Vice-President or the Governor of a State or Administrator of a Union territory or a Minister in respect of his conduct in the discharge of his public functions when instituted upon a complaint made by the Public Prosecutor |
Simple Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both |
Non-cognizable |
Bailable |
Court of Session |
| (b) Printing or engraving matter knowing it to be defamatory, in any other case |
Simple Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both |
Non-cognizable |
Bailable |
Magistrate of the first class |
|
| 502 IPC |
(a) Sale of printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter, knowing it to contain such matter against the President or the Vice-President or the Governor of a State or Administrator of a Union territory or a Minister in respect of his conduct in the discharge of his public functions when instituted upon a complaint made by the Public Prosecutor |
Simple Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both |
Non-cognizable |
Bailable |
Court of Session |
| (b) Sale of printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter, knowing it to contain such matter in any other case |
Simple imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both |
Non-cognizable |
Bailable |
Magistrate of the first class |
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCES UNDER INDIAN PENAL CODE 1860
Chapter V Abetment - Section 109, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115,116, 117, 118, 119, 120 of IPC
Chapter VA Criminal Conspiracy - Section 120B of IPC
Chapter IVA offences relating to elections - Sections 171E, 171F, 171G, 171H and 171I of IPC
Chapter XIII Offences relating to Weights and Measures - Section 264, 265, 266, 267 of IPC
Chapter XV Offences Relating to Religion - Section 295, 295A, 296, 297 and 298 of IPC
Chapter XIX Criminal Breach of Contract of Service - Section 491 of IPC
Chapter XX Offences relating to Marriage - Section 493, 494, 495, 496, 497, 498 of IPC
Chapter XX A cruelty by husband or relatives of husband - Section 498A of IPC
Chapter XXI Defamation - Section 500, 501, 502 of IPC
Chapter XIII Attempts to commit offences - Section 511 of IPC