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Rajasthan HC Recognizes 'Right to be Forgotten' Under Article 21, Directs Meta to Remove Private Images

PolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
07 Apr 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:March 19, 2026Article 21Article 226Sections 65A & 65B, Evidence Act
Bodies:Rajasthan High CourtMeta (Instagram)
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What This Article Covers

1.Rajasthan HC, in a criminal writ petition, directed Meta to verify, suspend an account, and permanently remove private images of a minor, citing a 'continuing violation' of Article 21.

2.The court linked the 'right to be forgotten' to informational privacy, drawing from the Puttaswamy judgment, and clarified that 'safe harbour' immunity for intermediaries is conditional on due diligence.

3.The judgment balances immediate content takedown with the preservation of digital evidence under Sections 65A/65B of the Evidence Act for prosecution.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The Rajasthan High Court has issued a landmark judgment, recognizing the 'right to be forgotten' as a facet of the fundamental right to privacy under Article 21. It directed Meta (Instagram) to permanently remove non-consensual intimate images, emphasizing that digital platforms cannot be 'mute spectators' and must act promptly to prevent 'enduring digital scars'.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Court & JudgeRajasthan High Court, Justice Farjand Ali
Date of JudgmentMarch 19, 2026
Constitutional ArticleArticle 21 (Right to Life & Privacy)
Legal FrameworkIT Act, 2000 & IT Rules, 2021

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Court & Judge: Rajasthan High Court, Justice Farjand Ali
  • ›Date of Judgment: March 19, 2026
  • ›Target this Legal Point: The 'right to be forgotten' recognized as a facet of Article 21 (Right to Privacy).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Rajasthan High Court (Justice Farjand Ali) issued the directive to Meta/Instagram.
  • ›Target this Statutory Provision: Conditional 'safe harbour' under Section 79 of the IT Act, 2000.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Under which article of the Constitution did the Rajasthan High Court hear the writ petition in the case concerning the removal of private images from social media?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Rajasthan High Court's judgment on the 'right to be forgotten':

1. The court held that the 'right to be forgotten' is an intrinsic part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

2. The judgment stated that social media intermediaries enjoy absolute immunity under the 'safe harbour' doctrine of the IT Act, 2000.

3. The court directed that digital evidence must be preserved under Sections 65A and 65B of the Indian Evidence Act.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

On which date did the Rajasthan High Court deliver the judgment directing Meta to remove private images, as per the news article?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What was the primary legal consequence outlined by the court for social media intermediaries if they fail to act on illegal content?

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