M.C. VERGHESE vs T.J. PONNAN & ANR.

The Supreme Court ruled that under Section 122 of the Evidence Act, 1872, communications between spouses are generally protected from disclosure in defamation cases. However, the Court held that the letters in question, which contained defamatory content about the appellant, could be admitted into evidence as they were in the appellant's possession. The Court clarified that the marriage was valid until a decree of nullity was pronounced, and thus the first respondent should not have been discharged from the defamation charge. The appeal was allowed, reversing the High Court's decision.