Independent Newspapers Ltd. v. Gunasingham – sllr 1991 volume 1 page 285

In the case between Independent Newspapers Limited (Plaintiff) and Gunasingham (Defendant), the court addressed the procedural and substantive questions related to pleadings in defamation actions. The central issues were whether further particulars must be furnished when the published words are prima facie defamatory, and whether such particulars can be sought through interrogatories after the trial has commenced under Section 94 of the Civil Procedure Code. It was established that where the words are alleged to be defamatory per se, further particulars are not required, and the determination of whether the words are defamatory is an objective matter. The sequence of events revealed that the defendant’s application for particulars was made after issues had been framed at trial, prompting j