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The principle and extent of absolute privilege relating to Judicial proceedings is lucidly stated at pages 765-768 of the 11th edition of 'Clerk and Lindsell on Torts' thus--

"It is impossible that litigation and public business, can be carded on without the character of individuals being constantly called in question. If everyone thus impeached were permitted to pursue his legal remedy, not merely would freedom of communication in matters where it is vitally necessary be rendered impossible, but a perennial source of litigation would be opened. Accordingly, on occasions absolutely privileged not merely are those protected who act in the honest discharge of their legal right or duty, but also those who abuse the opportunity with malacious motive and deliberate untruthfulness to malign their neighbours; and this because it, is impossible to devise a shield sufficiently broad to cover the former without also including the latter .'............ With regard to Judicial proceedings, "neither party witness, counsel, Jury, or Judge can be put to answer civilly, or criminally, For words spoken in office'. The authorities are clear, uniform, and conclusive that no action of slander or libel lies whether against judges, counsel, witnesses, or parties, for words written or spoken in the ordinary course of any proceeding before any court or tribunal recognised by law' ............. It is not merely with respect to the hearing in open court that there is absolute privilege but also with regard to every step taken in the conduct of legal proceeding. For instance, an affidavit filed in support of as interlocutory application can in no case give a cause of action, and the same applies to the report of an official receiver under Section 8 (2) of the Companies Winding-up Act, 1890.'' At page 767, the learned authors have further observed;-