<p>The Supreme Court today again reprimanded Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for using defamation cases to "throttle democracy" and asked her to face criticism as she was a public figure.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"This is not done. You can't use defamation case to throttle democracy. This is not healthy democracy. You must face criticism if you are a public figure," a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan said.<br /><br />"Government cannot use state machinery to file criminal defamation cases against political opponents. It should focus more on good governance," the bench asserted.<br /><br />The court's observations came on a petition filed by DMDK chief A Vijayakanth seeking quashing of defamation cases filed against him by state government.<br /><br />The apex court had on July 28 said defamation cases should not be used as a political counter weapon against the critics of governments and had stayed non-bailable warrants issued against the actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth and his wife Premlata in such matters.<br /><br />Counsel for state government had submitted a report in which it said that 200 defamation cases have been filed in the last five years, of which 55 cases were against the media and 85 cases involved Jayalalithaa.<br /><br />Over two dozen cases were filed against Vijayakanth and others for being critical of Jayalalithaa and her government.<br /><br />The bench also issued fresh summons against the public prosecutor and posted the matter for further hearing on September 21.<br /><br />Earlier, the apex court had said that anyone calling a government corrupt or unfit cannot be slapped with a defamation case.<br /><br />It had said that cases relating to criticising the government or bureaucrats had a "chilling effect" and there has to be tolerance to criticism.<br /><br />The court had also sought the list of defamation cases filed by the public prosecutors in Tamil Nadu on behalf of the Chief Minister against her critics.<br /><br />Earlier, the apex court had issued notice to Jayalalithaa on a plea by Vijayakanth seeking stay on proceedings on criminal defamation cases filed against him through public prosecutors. </p>
<p>The Supreme Court today again reprimanded Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for using defamation cases to "throttle democracy" and asked her to face criticism as she was a public figure.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"This is not done. You can't use defamation case to throttle democracy. This is not healthy democracy. You must face criticism if you are a public figure," a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan said.<br /><br />"Government cannot use state machinery to file criminal defamation cases against political opponents. It should focus more on good governance," the bench asserted.<br /><br />The court's observations came on a petition filed by DMDK chief A Vijayakanth seeking quashing of defamation cases filed against him by state government.<br /><br />The apex court had on July 28 said defamation cases should not be used as a political counter weapon against the critics of governments and had stayed non-bailable warrants issued against the actor-turned-politician Vijayakanth and his wife Premlata in such matters.<br /><br />Counsel for state government had submitted a report in which it said that 200 defamation cases have been filed in the last five years, of which 55 cases were against the media and 85 cases involved Jayalalithaa.<br /><br />Over two dozen cases were filed against Vijayakanth and others for being critical of Jayalalithaa and her government.<br /><br />The bench also issued fresh summons against the public prosecutor and posted the matter for further hearing on September 21.<br /><br />Earlier, the apex court had said that anyone calling a government corrupt or unfit cannot be slapped with a defamation case.<br /><br />It had said that cases relating to criticising the government or bureaucrats had a "chilling effect" and there has to be tolerance to criticism.<br /><br />The court had also sought the list of defamation cases filed by the public prosecutors in Tamil Nadu on behalf of the Chief Minister against her critics.<br /><br />Earlier, the apex court had issued notice to Jayalalithaa on a plea by Vijayakanth seeking stay on proceedings on criminal defamation cases filed against him through public prosecutors. </p>