Discuss the meaning of the term justification of truth.

In an action for defamation, truth of the defamatory statement is a complete defence. If the defendant proves that the defamatory statement is true, no action will lie for it, even if he had published the statement maliciously. If the statement is true the purpose or motive with which it was published is irrelevant. It is not necessary for the defendant to prove that every word of the defamatory statement is true. It will be sufficient, if the statement, though not perfectly true is substantially correct.