Can every harmful act be called a crime? The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita answers this with clarity — no. Through its General Exceptions, the law acknowledges that intention, good faith, necessity, mistake, and private defence can transform the legal character of an act. These provisions act as a shield against mechanical punishment, ensuring that justice is guided not only by the act committed but also by the mind and circumstances behind it.

What Is Defamation? Defamation arises when a person makes or publishes any wrong or false statement or allegations or false…