Karnataka High Court Rules Individuals Have Right To Mask Acquittal Records From Digital Search Results

In a landmark verdict, the High Court of Karnataka has reinforced the "right to be forgotten" as a facet of informational privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Presiding over the case, Justice M. Nagaprasanna ordered the masking of an acquitted individual's name from digital judicial and public search records.

The petitioner, an Iranian national previously residing in India, faced charges under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, and other statutes. Following a trial, the petitioner was acquitted of all charges in 2019. Despite this judicial exoneration, the petitioner’s name remained associated with the criminal case in online databases and search engines, causing significant professional harm and stigma.

The High Court observed that modern digital footprints often create a "permanent atmosphere of suspicion," undermining the impact of a formal acquittal. The court emphasized that when an acquittal attains finality, the law cannot permit the digital world to perpetually resurrect allegations that have been judicially extinguished. Addressing concerns regarding a potential "Pandora's box" of litigation, the court maintained that fundamental rights cannot be rationed out of fear of future claims.

"The law cannot countenance such a paradox. It thus becomes not merely appropriate, but constitutionally imperative that the respondents take all necessary measures to ensure that the names of persons who stand honourably acquitted... are suitably masked," the court stated.

The ruling mandates that the Registrar General of the High Court, the City Civil Court, the Hebbal Police, Google Inc, and Indian Kanoon must mask the petitioner's identity in all relevant digital records. This judgment sets a significant precedent for balancing public transparency with the right to live with dignity in the digital age.