law: Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1973
  
  199.Prosecution for defamation.-
  (1) No Court shall take cognizance
  
  of an offence punishable under Chapter XXI of the Indian Penal Code(45 of 1860)
  
  except upon a complaint made by some person aggrieved by the offence:
  
  Provided that where such person is under the age of eighteen years, or
  
  is an idiot or a lunatic, or is from sickness or infirmity unable to make a
  
  complaint, or is a woman who, according to the local customs and manners, ought
  
  not to be compelled to appear in public, some other person may, with the leave
  
  of the Court, make a complaint on his or her behalf.
  (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Code, when any offence falling
  
  under Chapter XXI of the Indian Penal Code(45 of 1860) is alleged to have been
  
  committed against a person who, at the time of such commission, is the
  
  President of India, the Vice-President of India, the Governor of a State, the
  
  Administrator of a Union territory or a Minister of the Union or of a State or
  
  of a Union territory, or any other public servant employed in connection with
  
  the affairs of the Union or of a State in respect of his conduct in the
  
  discharge of his public functions a Court of Session may take cognizance of
  
  such offence, without the case being committed to it, upon a complaint in
  
  writing made by the Public Prosecutor.
  (3) Every complaint referred to in sub-section (2) shall set forth the facts
  
  which constitute the offence alleged, the nature of such offence and such other
  
  particulars as are reasonably sufficient to give notice to the accused of the
  
  offence alleged to have been committed by him.
  (4) No complaint under sub-section (2) shall be made by the Public Prosecutor
  
  except with the previous sanction-
  (a) of the State Government, in the case of a person who is or has been the
  
  Governor of that State or a Minister of that Government;
  (b) of the State Government, in the case of any other public servant employed
  
  in connection with the affairs of the State;
  (c) of the Central Government, in any other case.
  (5) No Court of Session shall take cognizance
  
  of an offence under sub-section (2) unless the complaint is made within six
  
  months from the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.
  (6) Nothing in this section shall affect the right of the person against whom
  
  the offence is alleged to have been committed, to make a complaint in respect
  
  of that offence before a Magistrate having jurisdiction or the power of such
  
  Magistrate to take cognizance of the offence upon such complaint.