诽谤罪、批评权与宪法的民主之约

Libel Offence,Right of Criticism and the Democratic Compact of Constitution

公民批评屡屡引发诽谤罪公诉案件,暴露了批评权利的法律困境。这一困境并非由于刑法第246条诽谤罪违反宪法或者抵触宪法第41条有关批评权利的规定,而是由于在制度规定上一些关键表述含糊笼统,界限不清;司法体制的不完善为这些缺陷被利用提供了条件,导致诽谤罪的滥用。在这些因素背后更重要的原因是,在制度运行过程中欠缺对宪法批评权利的价值关怀。为了保障公民的批评权利,应对有关规定予以严格解释,降低诽谤罪追诉的不确定性;改革司法体制,加强程序制约,防止诽谤罪的滥用。

The citizens＇ criticism of the public officials repeatedly incurs public prosecution,which takes on the legal puzzledom of the right of criticism.The reason is not the conflict between the libel offence and the right of criticism,but the overbreadth and vagueness of Article 246 in Penal Code,the defect of judicatory system,and what＇s more important,the neglect of the right of criticism in process of law enforcement.In order to protect the right of criticism,Article 246 shall be explained exactly and strictly to reduce the indeterminacy of public prosecution,and the judicatory system shall be reformed to prevent the abuse of libel offence.