In Brief
A newspaper owner was accused of publishing defamatory material about the appellant. The newspaper owner argued that only the editor could be prosecuted, not the owner. The High Court agreed and quashed proceedings against him. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal, holding that a newspaper owner can be prosecuted for defamatory publications if he is responsible for printing, selling or offering for sale the defamatory matter. The Court clarified that Section 7 of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 merely creates a rebuttable presumption against the editor but does not shield other responsible parties from prosecution. The matter was remitted to the trial court.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.