Right To Be Forgotten: Karnataka HC Directs 17 Media Outlets To Temporarily Block Articles Displaying Names Of Two Acquitted Of Alleged Crimes

A single judge bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit issuing notice to the respondents said, "Interim order as prayed for till next date of hearing. This interim protection has been granted in the light of observations of Apex Court in K.S.Puttaswamy Vs. Union of India (2019) 1 SCC 1."

The Petitioners had been charged in the year 2014, for offences punishable under Section 341, 342, 343, 324, 326, 370, 374, r/w Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 23 of the Juvenile Justice Act and Section 14 of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.

It is claimed that several news websites and internet intermediaries such as search engines and social media platforms had published and uploaded news articles and videos reporting the alleged incident while also making grave allegations against the petitioners.

In the year 2018, the petitioners were acquitted of all charges against them after facing a trial. They have now approached the Court seeking a direction to the respondents to delete the news articles, videos, comments etc. claiming that the continued publication and display of the aforesaid on the websites has caused the petitioners immense professional setbacks, violation of their privacy, immense mental agony and trauma and infringes their fundamental right.

The plea says the display of the news articles, videos and comments and bail order on the websites is violating the petitioners' Right to Privacy and Right to a Profession.

Reliance is placed on the Supreme Court judgment in the case of K.S Puttaswamy v. Union of India to argue, "It is settled law that the petitioners have a Right to Privacy, of which the Right to be Forgotten and the Right to Be Left Alone are inherent aspects."

Case Title: XYZ & ANR v. Union of India and Others

Appearance: Advocate GANGADHARAIAH A N for petitioners

ASG SHANTHI BHUSHAN H for R1