India, May 5 -- The Delhi High Court's ruling in San Nutrition vs. Arpit Mangal is a welcome jurisprudential shift in the legal interpretation of free speech, consumer protection, and corporate accountability. In affirming that criticism rooted in scientific evidence does not amount to defamation - even when it names brands - the Court has not only protected an individual's right to free speech but also clarified that in the age of information saturation, evidence-based critique is a constitutional necessity, not a reputational threat.

For far too long, corporations have used the spectre of defamation, disparagement, and trademark infringement to intimidate critics and sidestep public scrutiny. By drawing a clear boundary between good-fa...