DON'T DISRESPECT LEADERS OF COUNTRY OR STATE WHEN PUBLISHING NEWS ARTICLES ABOUT THEM: MADRAS HIGH COURT WHILE QUASHING DEFAMATION PROCEEDINGS In quashing a 2016 defamation case against Tamil daily newspaper, the Madras High Court recently cautioned that leaders of the country or the State should not be disrespected when articles are printed or published about them (Dr R Krishnamurthy v. The City Public Prosecutor). The Court made the observation while allowing a plea to quash the defamation proceedings initiated against Dinamalar citing Section 500 (punishment for defamation) and Section 199 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which provides a special procedure for initiating prosecution proceedings for the defamation of a public servant. If the defamatory statement is personal in nature, the special procedure will not apply and it is only the concerned person who must file the complaint in The Court proceeded to quash the proceedings against publisher, who was the second petitioner in the matter.his or her individual capacity, the Court explained. Reddy & Reddy law firm is having team of legal experts and handles matters pertaining to civil and criminal laws.