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A critic publishes a good-faith review of a book offered to the public. The critic calls the book…

Exception 6 to section 356(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 protects good-faith opinions on a performance submitted to public judgment. A published book is an…

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A critic publishes a good-faith review of a book offered to the public. The critic calls the book indecent and comments on the author’s character only as reflected in that book. Is the review criminal defamation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023?

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Answer and explanation

Correct answer B

Exception 6 to section 356(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 protects good-faith opinions on a performance submitted to public judgment. A published book is an illustration. A comment about the author’s character is protected when it goes only as far as the work reveals.

Option feedback

Option A

Exception 6 permits a good-faith opinion about character so far as the performance reveals it.

Option B

Exception 6 protects good-faith criticism of the submitted work and the associated limited character opinion.

Option C

The form of an opinion does not automatically preclude a defamatory imputation. The specific exception matters here.

Option D

Section 356 does not require repetition.

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