Following is the chronology of events that led to the judgement by the Supreme Court refusing to decriminalise the defamation law:
* Oct 29, 2014: SC agrees to hear Subramanian Swamy's plea to quash defamation case filed by Tamil Nadu govt for making comments against Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
* Oct 30: SC stays proceedings on defamation cases against Swamy.
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* Apr 7, 2015: Centre's response sought on constitutional validity of sections 499 and 500 of IPC.
* Apr 17: SC stays Kejriwal's prosecution in defamation cases filed by Union minister Nitin Gadkari and an advocate.
* May 1: SC stays two other cases against Kejriwal filed by Amit Sibal and Pawan Khera.
* May 8: SC stays defamation proceedings against Rahul Gandhi for allegedly blaming RSS for assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
* July 14: Swamy and Rahul assail criminal defamation law.
* July 15: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says defamation law is abused, calls for re-examining of law.
* July 23: Centre says quashing of defamation laws will lead to "anarchy".
* Sep 7: SC stays criminal proceedings against Subramanian Swamy in three defamation cases, filed by Tamil Nadu govt.
* May 13, 2016: SC upholds constitutional validity of penal laws on defamation; asks petitioners to approach HC for further relief in the case.
