The Supreme Court today said defamation cases should not be used as a political counter weapon against critics of governments. The Apex Court stayed execution of non-bailable warrants issued against DMDK Chief and actor-politician Vijayakanth and his wife Premlata in one such case.<br/><br/>A bench of the Apex Court comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman said, there has to be tolerance to criticism. The bench also sought the list of defamation cases filed by the public prosecutors in Tamil Nadu on behalf of Chief Minister Jayalalitha against her critics, within two weeks. <br/><br/>The bench told the counsel for Tamil Nadu government that there should not be abuse of defamation provisions. A Tirupur trial court had yesterday issued non-bailable warrants against Vijayakanth and his wife after they failed to appear before the court with regard to the defamation case against them.<br/><br/>The case lodged by Public Prosecutor of Tirupur district was on the allegation that they made false remarks against Jayalalitha and criticised the functioning of State government in November, 2015.

The Supreme Court today said defamation cases should not be used as a political counter weapon against critics of governments. The Apex Court stayed execution of non-bailable warrants issued against DMDK Chief and actor-politician Vijayakanth and his wife Premlata in one such case.<br/><br/>A bench of the Apex Court comprising Justices Dipak Misra and R F Nariman said, there has to be tolerance to criticism. The bench also sought the list of defamation cases filed by the public prosecutors in Tamil Nadu on behalf of Chief Minister Jayalalitha against her critics, within two weeks. <br/><br/>The bench told the counsel for Tamil Nadu government that there should not be abuse of defamation provisions. A Tirupur trial court had yesterday issued non-bailable warrants against Vijayakanth and his wife after they failed to appear before the court with regard to the defamation case against them.<br/><br/>The case lodged by Public Prosecutor of Tirupur district was on the allegation that they made false remarks against Jayalalitha and criticised the functioning of State government in November, 2015.