Explain the legal implications of defamation according to Indian Penal Code (IPC 1860) Section 499: Defamation and their relevant Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (BNS 2023) code reference.

{'IPC Section': '499', 'IPC Heading': 'Defamation', 'IPC Descriptions': ' Indian Penal Code, 1860 
499. Defamation
Whoever, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by
signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation
concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe
that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said, except
in the cases hereinafter expected, to defame that person.
Explanation 1  It may amount to defamation to impute anything
to a deceased person, if the imputation would harm the reputation of that
person if living, and is intended to be hurtful to the feelings of his family
or other near relatives.
Explanation 2  It may amount to defamation to make an
imputation concerning a company or an association or collection of persons as
such.
Explanation 3  An imputation in the form of an alternative or
expressed ironically, may amount to defamation.
Explanation 4  No imputation is said to harm a person\'s
reputation, unless that imputation directly or indirectly, in the estimation of
others, lowers the moral or intellectual character of that person, or lowers
the character of that person in respect of his caste or of his calling, or
lowers the credit of that person, or causes it to be believed that the body of
that person is in a loath some state, or in a state generally considered as
disgraceful.
Illustrations
(a) A says"Z is an honest man; he never stole B\'s
watch"; intending to cause it to be believed that Z did steal B\'s watch.
This is defamation, unless it fall within one of the exceptions.
(b) A is asked who stole B\'s watch. A points to Z, intending to
cause it to be believed that Z stole B\'s watch. This is defamation unless it
fall within one of the exceptions.
(c) A draws a picture of Z running away with B\'s watch,
intending it to be believed that Z stole B\'s watch. This is defamation, unless
it fall within one of the exceptions.
First Exception  imputation of truth which public good,
requires to be made or published   It is not defamation to impute
anything which is true concerning any person, if it be for the public good that
the imputation should be made or published. Whether or not it is for the public
good is a question of fact.
Second Exception  Public conduct of public servants It is not
defamation to express in a good faith any opinion whatever respecting the
conduct of a public servant in the discharge of his public functions, or
respecting his character, so far as his character appears in that conduct, and
no further.
Third Exception  Conduct of any person touching any public
question It is not defamation to express in good faith any opinion whatever
respecting the conduct of any person touching any public question, and
respecting his character, so far as his character appears in that conduct, and
no further.
Illustration
it is not defamation in A to express in good faith any opinion
whatever respecting Z\'s conduct in petitioning Government on a public question,
in signing a requisition for a meeting on a public question, in presiding or
attending a such meeting, in forming or joining any society which invites the
public support, in voting or canvassing for a particular candidate for any
situation in the efficient discharges of the duties of which the public is
interested.
Fourth Exception  Publication of reports of proceedings of
Courts It is not defamation to publish substantially true report of the
proceedings of a Court of Justice, or of the result of any such proceedings.
Explanation  A Justice of the Peace or other officer
holding an inquiry in open Court preliminary to a trial in a Court of Justice,
is a Court within the meaning of the above section.
Fifth Exception  Merits of case decided in Court or conduct of
witnesses and others concerned It is not defamation to express in good faith
any opinion whatever respecting the merits of any case, civil or criminal,
which has been decided by a Court of Justice, or respecting the conduct of any
person as a party, witness or agent, in any such case, or respecting the
character of such person, as far as his character appears in that conduct, and
no further.
Illustrations
(a) A says"I think Z\'s evidence on that trial is so
contradictory that he must be stupid or dishonest". A is within this
exception if he says this is in good faith, in as much as the opinion which he
expresses respects Z\'s character as it appears in Z\'s conduct as a witness, and
no further.
(b) But if A says"I do not believe what Z asserted at that
trial because 1 know him to be a man without veracity"; A is not within
this exception, in as much as the opinion which he express of Z\'s character, is
an opinion not founded on Z\'s conduct as a witness.
Sixth Exception  Merits of public performance It is not
defamation to express in good faith any opinion respecting the merits of any
performance which its author has submitted to the judgment of the public, or
respecting the character of the author so far as his character appears in such
performance, and no further.
Explanation  A performance may be substituted to the
judgment of the public expressly or by acts on the part of the author which
imply such submission to the judgment of the public.
Illustrations
(a) A person who publishes a book, submits that book to the
judgment of the public.
(b) A person who makes a speech in public, submits that speech
to the judgment of the public.
(c) An actor or singer who appears on a public stage, submits
his acting or signing in the judgment of the public.
(d) A says of a book published by Z "Z\'s book is foolish;
Z must be a weak man. Z\'s book is indecent; Z must be a man of impure
mind". A is within the exception, if he says this in good faith, in as
much as the opinion which he expresses of Z respects Z\'s character only so far
as it appears in Z\'s book, and no further.
(e) But if A says"I am not surprised that Z\'s book is
foolish and indecent, for he is a weak man and a libertines. A is not within
this exception, in as much as the opinion which he expresses of Z\'s character
is an opinion not founded on Z\'s book.
Seventh Exception  Censure passed in good faith by person having
lawful authority over another It is not defamation in a person having over
another any authority, either conferred by law or arising out of a lawful
contract made with that other, to pass in good faith any censure on the conduct
of that other in matters to which such lawful authority relates.
Illustration
A Judge censuring in good faith the conduct of a witness, or of
an officer of the Court; a head of a department censuring in good faith those
who are under his orders; a parent censuring in good faith a child in the
presence of other children; a schoolmaster, whose authority is derived from a
parent, censuring in good faith a pupil in the presence of other pupils; a
master censuring a servant in good faith for remissness in service; a banker
censuring in good faith the cashier of his bank for the conduct of such cashier
as such cashierare within the exception.
Eight Exception  Accusation preferred in good faith to
authorized person  It is not defamation to prefer in good faith an
accusation against any person to any of those who have lawful authority over that
person with respect to the subjectmatter of accusation.
Illustration
If A in good faith accuse Z before a Magistrate; if A in good
faith complains of the conduct of Z, a servant, to Z\'s master; if A in good
faith complains of the conduct of Z, and child, to Z\'s fatherA is within this
exception.
Ninth Exception  Imputation made in good faith by person for
protection of his or other\'s interests It is not defamation to make an
imputation on the character of another provided that the imputation be made in
good faith for the protection of the interests of the person making it, or of
any other person, or for the public good.
Illustrations
(a) A, a shopkeeper, says to B, who manages his
business"Sell nothing to Z unless he pays you ready money, for 1 have no
opinion of his honesty". A is with in the exception, if he has made this
imputation on Z in good faith for the protection of his own interests.
(b) A, a Magistrate, in making a report of his own superior
officer, casts an imputation on the character of Z. Here, if the imputation is
made in good faith, and for the public good, A is within the exception.
Tenth Exception  Caution intended for good of person to whom
conveyed or for public good it is not defamation to convey a caution, in good
faith, to one person against another, provided that such caution be intended
for the good of the person to whom it is conveyed, or of some person in whom
that person is interested, or for the public good.', 'BNS Section': '356(1)', 'BNS Heading': 'Defamation', 'BNS description': 'The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Of defamation
356. Defamation.
(1) Whoever, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes in any manner, any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said, except in the cases hereinafter excepted, to defame that person.
Explanation 1.It may amount to defamation to impute anything to a deceased person, if the imputation would harm the reputation of that person if living, and is intended to be hurtful to the feelings of his family or other near relatives.
Explanation 2.It may amount to defamation to make an imputation concerning a company or an association or collection of persons as such.
Explanation 3.An imputation in the form of an alternative or expressed ironically, may amount to defamation.
Explanation 4.No imputation is said to harm a person\'s reputation, unless that imputation directly or indirectly, in the estimation of others, lowers the moral or intellectual character of that person, or lowers the character of that person in respect of his caste or of his calling, or lowers the credit of that person, or causes it to be believed that the body of that person is in a loathsome state, or in a state generally considered as disgraceful.
Illustrations.
(a) A says "Z is an honest man; he never stole B\'s watch"; intending to cause it to be believed that Z did steal B\'s watch. This is defamation, unless it falls within one of the exceptions.
(b) A is asked who stole B\'s watch. A points to Z, intending to cause it to be believed that Z stole B\'s watch. This is defamation, unless it falls within one of the exceptions.
(c) A draws a picture of Z running away with B\'s watch, intending it to be believed that Z stole B\'s watch. This is defamation, unless it falls within one of the exceptions.
Exception 1.It is not defamation to impute anything which is true concerning any person, if it be for the public good that the imputation should be made or published. Whether or not it is for the public good is a question of fact.
Exception 2.It is not defamation to express in good faith any opinion whatever respecting the conduct of a public servant in the discharge of his public functions, or respecting his character, so far as his character appears in that conduct, and no further.
Exception 3.It is not defamation to express in good faith any opinion whatever respecting the conduct of any person touching any public question, and respecting his character, so far as his character appears in that conduct, and no further. Illustration.
It is not defamation in A to express in good faith any opinion whatever respecting Z\'s conduct in petitioning Government on a public question, in signing a requisition for a meeting on a public question, in presiding or attending at such meeting, in forming or joining any society which invites the public support, in voting or canvassing for a particular candidate for any situation in the efficient discharge of the duties of which the public is interested.
Exception 4.It is not defamation to publish substantially true report of the proceedings of a Court, or of the result of any such proceedings.
Explanation.A Magistrate or other officer holding an inquiry in open Court preliminary to a trial in a Court, is a Court within the meaning of the above section.
Exception 5.It is not defamation to express in good faith any opinion whatever respecting the merits of any case, civil or criminal, which has been decided by a Court, or respecting the conduct of any person as a party, witness or agent, in any such case, or respecting the character of such person, as far as his character appears in that conduct, and no further.
Illustrations.
(a) A says"I think Z\'s evidence on that trial is so contradictory that he must be stupid or dishonest". A is within this exception if he says this in good faith, in as much as the opinion which he expresses respects Z\'s character as it appears in Z\'s conduct as a witness, and no further.
(b) But if A says"I do not believe what Z asserted at that trial because I know him to be a man without veracity"; A is not within this exception, in as much as the opinion which expresses of Z\'s character, is an opinion not founded on Z\'s conduct as a witness.
Exception 6.It is not defamation to express in good faith any opinion respecting the merits of any performance which its author has submitted to the judgment of the public, or respecting the character of the author so far as his character appears in such performance, and no further.
Explanation.A performance may be submitted to the judgment of the public expressly or by acts on the part of the author which imply such submission to the judgment of the public.
Illustrations.
(a) A person who publishes a book, submits that book to the judgment of the public.
(b) A person who makes a speech in public, submits that speech to the judgment of the public.
(c) An actor or singer who appears on a public stage, submits his acting or singing to the judgment of the public.
(d) A says of a book published by Z"Z\'s book is foolish; Z must be a weak man. Z\'s book is indecent; Z must be a man of impure mind". A is within the exception, if he says this in good faith, in as much as the opinion which he expresses of Z respects Z\'s character only so far as it appears in Z\'s book, and no further.
(e) But if A says "I am not surprised that Z\'s book is foolish and indecent, for he is a weak man and a libertine". A is not within this exception, in as much as the opinion which he expresses of Z\'s character is an opinion not founded on Z\'s book.
Exception 7.It is not defamation in a person having over another any authority, either conferred by law or arising out of a lawful contract made with that other, to pass in good faith any censure on the conduct of that other in matters to which such lawful authority relates.
Illustration.
A Judge censuring in good faith the conduct of a witness, or of an officer of the Court; a head of a department censuring in good faith those who are under his orders, a parent censuring in good faith a child in the presence of other children; a school master, whose authority is derived from a parent, censuring in good faith a pupil in the presence of other pupils; a master censuring a servant in good faith for remissness in service; a banker censuring in good faith the cashier of his bank for the conduct of such cashier as such cashier are within this exception.
Exception 8.It is not defamation to prefer in good faith an accusation against any person to any of those who have lawful authority over that person with respect to the subjectmatter of accusation.
Illustration.
If A in good faith accuses Z before a Magistrate; if A in good faith complains of the conduct of Z, a servant, to Z\'s master; if A in good faith complains of the conduct of Z, a child, to Z\'s father, A is within this exception.
Exception 9. It is not defamation to make an imputation on the character of another provided that the imputation be made in good faith for the protection of the interests of the person making it, or of any other person, or for the public good.
Illustrations.
(a) A, a shopkeeper, says to B, who manages his business"Sell nothing to Z unless he pays you ready money, for I have no opinion of his honesty". A is within the exception, if he has made this imputation on Z in good faith for the protection of his own interests.
(b) A, a Magistrate, in making a report to his own superior officer, casts an imputation on the character of Z. Here, if the imputation is made in good faith, and for the public good, A is within the exception.
Exception 10. It is not defamation to convey a caution, in good faith, to one person against another, provided that such caution be intended for the good of the person to whom it is conveyed, or of some person in whom that person is interested, or for the public good.
(2) Whoever defames another shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both, or with community service.
(3) Whoever prints or engraves any matter, knowing or having good reason to believe that such matter is defamatory of any person, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
(4) Whoever sells or offers for sale any printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter, knowing that it contains such matter, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.'}