If the Husband is defamed, the wife can be affected by it; Common Family Reputation: SC
Last Updated on April 6, 2025 by Shianjany Pradhan
The SC observed that husband and wife have individual reputations but there is also a family reputation, and the wife can be affected by anything if that negatively affects the reputation of the Husband
The bench was headed by Justices Surya Kant and N. kotiswar Singh. An appeal was filed by the Spunklane news portal on the issue of whether the wife, with the subsequent impleadment of her husband, can restrain the media house from refraining from publishing about her husband.
It would be a very dangerous proposition that living under the same roof, husband has a separate reputation, wife has a separate reputation…they may have separate [reputation] also, but they have a common, integral and integrated reputation also that’s known as family reputation, a couple’s reputation, a husband-wife’s reputation.“
The petitioners were of the view that the wife can not join at the later stage and acquire better rights by joining anyone with better rights, herein, the husband.
To this, the court replied that as per the principle of jurisprudence, the multiplicity of proceedings must be avoided, and the petitioner can do the same.
