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'A' in good faith says of a book published by 'Z': "Z's book is indecent, Z must be a man of impure…

Under the Sixth Exception to section 356(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (formerly section 499 IPC), an opinion expressed in good faith on the merits of a book…

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'A' in good faith says of a book published by 'Z': "Z's book is indecent, Z must be a man of impure mind." Is this defamation punishable under section 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023?

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Correct answer B

Under the Sixth Exception to section 356(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (formerly section 499 IPC), an opinion expressed in good faith on the merits of a book submitted to public judgment, or on the author's character as it appears in it, is not defamation; its illustration uses these very words, so the remark is not punishable under section 356(2). Spoken words can be defamation in Indian law, and repetition is not required.

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