The Madras High Court in Chennai, India, has ruled that lawyers cannot face defamation prosecution for statements made based on their clients' instructions. Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan stated that lawyers act as advocates for their clients and cannot verify the truth of the facts presented to them. The court's decision came while quashing a criminal defamation complaint against a lawyer involved in a matrimonial dispute. The complaint was filed by a man who alleged that his wife, with the lawyer's instigation, falsely accused him of sexual harassment under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The court found that any responsibility for the allegations lies with the client, not the lawyer. However, the court did not dismiss the defamation complaint against the wife, highlighting the complexity of legal responsibilities in such cases.