1) It is prohibited to denigrate and talk disparagingly about a person even after he/she passes away.
2) There is a “Cherem Kadmonin” , an ancient rabbinic condemnation leveled against one who speaks negatively about the deceased, and it is recommended to be careful with this at all costs. (See commentary of the Mordechai beginning of 8th Perek of Bava Kama. See also Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 606:3)
This applies regarding any deceased people, even if they were not Torah scholars, and all the more so about a Torah scholar.
Furthermore, it also applies to disparaging the Divrei Torah of a Talmid Chacham who has passed from this world.
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