DEFAMATION SUIT....... PROPER FORUM

Citation Name  : 2017  CLC  45     LAHORE-HIGH-COURT-LAHORE   Side Appellant : ZAFAR ALI   Side Opponent : ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGE, PAKPATTAN Ss. 13, 10 & Preamble----Civil Procedure Code (V of 1908), S.9---defamation resulting from malicious prosecution---suit for damages---Ultimate jurisdiction of civil court under the CPC---defamation Ordinance, 2002 does not oust the jurisdiction of the civil court under CPC--- Question befor e the High Court was whether a suit for damages on account of defamation resulting from alleged malicious prosecution was maintainable befor e the court of ultimate jurisdiction under S.9 of the C.P.C. or the same could only be adjudicated under S.13 of the defamation Ordinance, 2002---Held, that S.13 of the defamation Ordinance, 2002 prescribed the remedy to enfor ce a right befor e the District Court, however, the same did not contain any repealing or ouster clause regarding jurisdiction of civil court to entertain a suit under the general law, that was S.9 of the C.P.C.---Remedy/right against defamation was already recognized and actionable under general law even prior to promulgation of the defamation Ordinance, 2002 hence without a clause ousting general jurisdiction of the civil court, any person aggrieved by an act of defamation could avail said remedy either by filing a suit befor e the civil court under S.9 of the C.P.C. or by making complaint under provisions of the defamation Ordinance, 2002 befor e District Court, and neither avenue was closed for such an aggrieved person---Impugned order was set aside---Constitutional petition was allowed, accordingly.