Gangtok, Aug. 1 -- The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 does not grant social media users, journalists, or digital news platforms any special exemption to publish unverified allegations arising from private family disputes. Legal experts note that such publications may expose individuals and publishers to criminal defamation proceedings and other legal consequences if the information is false, misleading, or published without due verification.

Defamation Under Section 356 of the BNS Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita makes it an offence to publish any statement or imputation that harms a person's reputation when it is made with the intention to cause harm or with knowledge that it is likely to damage that person's reputation. ...