Right to reputation is constitutionally protected right
The term ‘person’ includes not only the physical body and members but also every bodily sense and personal attribute among which is the reputation a man has acquired. Reputation can also be defined to be good name, the credit, honour or character which is derived from a favourable public opinion or esteem, and character by report. The right to enjoyment of a good reputation is a valuable privilege of ancient origin and necessary to human society. ‘Reputation’ is an element of personal security and is protected by Constitution equally with the right to enjoyment of life, liberty and property. Although ‘character’ and ‘reputation’ are often used synonymously, but these terms are distinguishable. ‘Character’ is what a man is and ‘reputation’ is what he is supposed to be in what people say he is. ‘Character’ depends on attributes possessed and ‘reputation’ on attributes which others believe one to possess. The former signifies reality and the latter merely what is accepted to be reality at present. {Ref. Smt. Kiran Bedi v. The Committee of Inquiry & Anr. [(1989) 1 SCC 494] and Nilgiris Bar Association v. T.K. Mahalingam & Anr. [AIR 1998 SC 398]}.
Supreme Court of India
Kishore Samrite vs State Of U.P. & Ors. on 18 October, 2012
Bench: B.S. Chauhan, Swatanter Kumar
