Section 289: Publication of reply by newspaper

289. Publication of reply by newspaper (1) (a) The owner or editor of any newspaper shall further be bound to insert gratuitously within 3 days (or in the next number where the paper is not a daily) the reply of any person named or referred to in the newspaper, provided such reply does not contain any matter amounting to an offence under any enactment, and provided such reply is not foreign to the subject in C57 – 79 [Issue 2] Criminal Code connection with which such person has been named or referred to in the newspaper, without prejudice to the other penalties to which the article may give rise. (b) This insertion shall be made in the same place and in the same type as the original article and shall be published without charge provided it does not exceed twice the length of the article. (c) In that case the excess shall be charged for at advertisement rate. (2) Any owner or editor who contravenes subsection (1) shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 100,000 rupees, and shall insert the reply within 3 days of such conviction (or in the next number if the paper is not a daily), failing which he shall be liable to a further fine not exceeding 100,000 rupees. [S. 289 amended by Act 29 of 1990; Act 5 of 1999; s. 8 (a) of Act 36 of 2008 w.e.f. 6 December 2008.]