Section 299: Publishing false news
consolidated text (as at 2016, amended since). juris shows the text as it was consolidated; it does not confirm that this is the law in force today.
299. Publishing false news
The publication, diffusion or reproLa publication, diffusion ou reduction, by any means, of false
production, par n’importe quel
news or of news which though true
moyen, de nouvelles fausses ou
in substance has been altered in one
de nouvelles vraies en elles-mêmes
or more parts or falsely attributed
mais altérées en une ou plusieurs
to some other person, if the publicade leurs parties ou mensongèretion, diffusion or reproduction is of
ment attribuées à des tiers, lorsque
la publication, la diffusion ou la
C57 – 81 [Issue 2]
Criminal Code
reproduction est de nature à troubler such a nature as to disturb public
l’ordre ou la paix publique sera order or public peace, shall be
punie— punished—
(a) si l’offense a été commi- (a) where the offence is
se au moyen de paroles, committed by means of
d’une amende ne dépas- any spoken words by a
sant pas 100,000 roupies fine not exceeding
et d’une peine d’empri- 100,000 rupees and imsonnement ne dépassant prisonment for a term
pas 2 ans; not exceeding 2 years;
(b) si l’offense a été commi- (b) where the offence is
se au moyen d’écrits, de committed by means of
journaux, pamphlets ou any writing, newspaper,
d’imprimés ou par pamphlet or printed matn’importe quel autre ter or by any means
moyen que des paroles, other than spoken words,
d’une amende d’au moins by a fine which shall not
20,000 roupies et ne dé- be less than 20,000 rupassant pas 50,000 rou- pees and not more than
pies et d’une peine 50,000 rupees and imd’emprisonnement ne prisonment for a term not
dépassant pas un an, exceeding one year,
à moins que le prévenu n’établisse unless it is proved by the accused
que la publication, la diffusion ou la that the publication, the diffusion or
reproduction incriminée a été faite de reproduction was made in good faith
bonne foi et après vérification and after making sufficient inquiries
suffisante. to ascertain its truth.
[S. 299 amended by Act 1 of 1985; Act 29 of 1990; Act 40 of 1990; Act 5 of 1999;
s. 8 of Act 36 of 2008 w.e.f. 6 December 2008.]
Ask juris about this section Official source
Questions this section answers
- What is the penalty for spreading false news likely to disturb public order?
- Can I avoid punishment for publishing false news if I show I checked it in good faith?