Legal Notice For Defamation
Apply for defamation legal notice with expert assistance. Understand documents required, government fees, processing time and the step-by-step process before you.
Dedicated specialist
CA-led, named point of contact
Tracked client portal
Real-time status, end-to-end
Money-back accuracy
Refile-free if our error
Flat-fee pricing
No hidden charges, ever
About this service
Legal Notice For Defamation is a key regulatory filing administered by the relevant statutory authority. Filing is executed via No statutory form for defamation notice. Civil suit — Plaint under CPC O.VII r.1 — Schedule I & II of Court Fees Act 1870 (ad-valorem court fee on damages claimed). Criminal complaint — Private Complaint under BNSS s.223 — format per state District Court Rules (Delhi — Chapter VII-A Delhi High Court Original Side Rules). under **BNS 2023 — s.356 (Defamation — punishment up to 2 yrs / fine / both / community service for first conviction)**, **s.357 (Defamation — second / subsequent conviction — up to 2 yrs + fine + community service)**, **s.358 (Defamation by publication of alleged matter — exceptions list mirrors IPC s.499 Exceptions 1-10)**; *(Pre-1 July 2024: Indian Penal Code 1860 s.499-502 — now repealed by BNS but cause of action accrued pre-1 July 2024 continues under IPC per BNSS s.536 savings clause)*; BNSS 2023 — s.223 (cognizance by Magistrate — private complaint), s.210-216 (summons-cases trial), s.280 (examination of complainant on affidavit); Civil remedy — tort of defamation (common law — no statute) + Permanent & Mandatory Injunction under Specific Relief Act 1963 s.37-38 + Damages under Indian Contract Act s.73 / common law tort principles + Declaration under Specific Relief Act s.34; IT Act 2000 — s.67A / 67C (intermediary liability for online defamation — *Shreya Singhal v. Union of India* (2015) SC — s.79 safe harbour interpretation); IT Rules 2021 — Rule 3 (due diligence by intermediary) + Rule 7 (loss of safe harbour if non-compliant).. Our specialist-led team ensures full compliance with statutory documentation, eligibility verification, and expedited government approval.
Eligibility & thresholds
- Valid identity & address proof of applicant
- Active PAN & registered business premises
- Authorized representative authorization
- Compliant under applicable regulatory laws
- No pending statutory disqualifications
- Valid across authorized operational jurisdictions
- Pre-filing statutory documentation verification
- Official statutory fee schedule as per authority
- Mandatory periodic compliance filings post-approval
What's included
Everything in one transparent fee — no add-ons, no surprises.
Government Fee Breakdown
Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. All figures verified as of 25 August 2026.
| Fee Component | Amount (₹) | Basis / Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Notice For Defamation Statutory Filing | ₹0 (No government fee) | Government fee is Nil / exempted under applicable statutory rulesOfficial Regulator |
| Total Government Fee | No fee | (for default assumptions stated below) |
Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. Verified 25 August 2026.
Required documents
Each list identifies exactly what to provide — and what you do not need to submit. Use the accordions to expand.
- 1screenshot / printout of defamatory publication (certified u/s.65B Evidence Act - Section 65B certifscreenshot / printout of defamatory publication (certified u/s.65B Evidence Act - Section 65B certificate format - *Arjun Panditrao Khotkar v. Kailash Kushanrao Gorantyal* (2020) SC - mandatory);
- 2URL / DOI / publication date;URL / DOI / publication date;
- 3details of publisher / author / intermediary;details of publisher / author / intermediary;
- 4KYC of complainant;KYC of complainant;
- 5prior correspondence with publisher / intermediary (grievance appeal under IT Rules 2021 Rule 3(2) -prior correspondence with publisher / intermediary (grievance appeal under IT Rules 2021 Rule 3(2) - 24-hour acknowledgement + 15-day resolution);
- 6evidence of loss / injury - quantification of damages (loss of business - turnover / contracts lost)evidence of loss / injury - quantification of damages (loss of business - turnover / contracts lost);
- 7witness statements.witness statements.
How it works
Each step is labelled with who performs it — Customer, I-Pro, or the Regulator. Form names are linked to the official portal.
- 1Customer⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 1: **Documentation**
**Documentation**: Collect evidence - screenshot with URL + timestamp; print publication; preserve electronic evidence with hash value (IT Act 2000 s.65B certificate - Form under Evidence Act). - 2I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 2: **Grievance to intermediary**
**Grievance to intermediary**: Notice to Grievance Officer of intermediary (IT Rules 2021 Rule 3(2)) - interim removal of content within 24 hours (Rule 3(2)(d)); final decision within 15 days. - 3I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 3: **Drafting legal notice**
**Drafting legal notice**: Advocate drafts notice - specify defamatory statements, publication date, publication context, injury caused, demand for unconditional public apology + retraction + removal of content + damages. - 4I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 4: **Dispatch**
**Dispatch**: RPAD / Speed Post + email + courier to publisher / author / intermediary. - 5I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 5: **Waiting period**
**Waiting period**: Typically 7-15 days for reply / compliance (no statutory period under BNS for criminal - but reasonable period expected). - 6I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 6: **Civil suit for damages + injunction** (if relief inadequate)
**Civil suit for damages + injunction** (if relief inadequate): Plaint under CPC O.VII r.1 - damages + ad-interim / ex-parte injunction under Specific Relief Act 1963 s.37-38 - *Ex-parte ad-interim injunction* subject to triple-test - prima facie case + balance of convenience + irreparable loss. - 7I-Pro⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 7: **Criminal complaint** (if defamation serious
**Criminal complaint** (if defamation serious - s.356 BNS): Private complaint under BNSS s.223 before JMFC - Magistrate takes cognizance - issues summons to accused. - 8Regulator⏱ 1 - 3 Days
Step 8: **Trial & order**
**Trial & order**: Civil - interim injunction → evidence → final decree. Criminal - pre-charge evidence → charge → defence evidence → judgment.
Post-registration compliance
What to file next. I-Pro handles these as part of the annual compliance package.
| Filing | Form | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A) Penalty: ₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh) | One-time mandatory | Within 180 days of incorporation after bank capital deposit |
| First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1) Penalty: Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers | 5-year tenure | Within 30 days of incorporation by Board of Directors |
| Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling | Annual | Within 30 days of AGM (by 29 October annually) |
| Annual Return (Form MGT-7) Penalty: ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling | Annual | Within 60 days of AGM (by 29 November annually) |
| Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC) Penalty: ₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation | Annual | Every designated partner / director holding active DIN by 30 September |
One-time mandatory5-year tenureAnnualAnnualAnnualPenalties for non-compliance
Statutory penalties under governing regulatory provisions. Avoid non-compliance delays.
| Non-compliance | Provision | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Commencement of Business (Form INC-20A) | One-time mandatory | ₹50,000 for company + ₹1,000/day for directors (max ₹1 Lakh) |
| First Auditor Appointment (Form ADT-1) | 5-year tenure | Statutory non-compliance; prosecution of defaulting officers |
| Annual Financial Statements (Form AOC-4) | Annual | ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling |
| Annual Return (Form MGT-7) | Annual | ₹100 per day of delay per form with no statutory ceiling |
| Director KYC Verification (DIR-3 KYC) | Annual | ₹5,000 statutory fee per DIN + deactivation |
Common mistakes to avoid
Avoidable filing errors that cause delays or rejection. Each can be resolved before submission.
- 1Mismatched applicant legal name or identity details across KYC proofsWhy: Government verification APIs cross-check with UIDAI and MCA databases and automatically flag discrepancies in spelling or dates.Fix: Our specialists pre-validate your documents against official government databases before portal filing.
- 2Submitting outdated utility bills or non-notarized commercial leasesWhy: Premises proofs older than 60 days or defective landlord NOCs trigger statutory scrutiny queries and multi-week processing delays.Fix: We verify recent billing dates and provide pre-formatted, legally vetted landlord NOC and lease formats.
- 3Selecting incorrect classification, turnover slab, or statutory activity codeWhy: Applications filed under inappropriate classifications attract show-cause notices and potential rejection without statutory fee refund.Fix: We conduct a statutory scope assessment to align your application with the exact regulatory requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about this service.
Client feedback
What clients say
Real reviews from founders, finance leads and operators who used our Legal Notice For Defamation service.
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your experience with Legal Notice For Defamation.
Recommended Bundles
Instead of buying these services separately, get them together as a package.