- In a landmark verdict delivered on May 29, 2026, the Delhi High Court recognized the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ as an integral part of the fundamental Right to Privacy enshrined under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
- In this comprehensive 144-page judgment, Justice Sachin Datta observed that, in the digital age, the protection of an individual's private information and reputation falls within the ambit of constitutional safeguards.
- This verdict holds particular significance for individuals against whom cases have been concluded, charges have been dropped, or who have been acquitted by the courts, yet whose names continue to remain accessible in internet search results and online records.
- In its judgment, the Court clarified that the indefinite public availability of information pertaining to an individual's past can have an adverse impact on their social, professional, and personal life.
- Therefore, under appropriate circumstances, individuals should be accorded the right to seek the removal of such dated digital records or search results. The Court identified personal honor, dignity, and reputation as fundamental values protected by the Constitution.
- Notably, Article 21 of the Indian Constitution grants every citizen the right to life and personal liberty.
- Interpreting this right broadly, the Supreme Court, in its 2017 judgment in the case of *Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India*, had declared the Right to Privacy to be a fundamental right.
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Law & Justice
