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Karnataka HC Enforces Right to Be Forgotten, Masks Acquitted Woman’s Name in Digital Records

PolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
04 Aug 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:20192013-14Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
Bodies:High Court of KarnatakaGoogleIndian Kanoon
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Karnataka HC orders masking of acquitted woman's name from online records, citing 'right to be forgotten'.

2.The petitioner, an Iranian national, was acquitted in 2019 under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, and now lives in Sweden as a refugee.

3.The court dismissed 'floodgates' concerns, asserting constitutional guarantees are not rationed.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The Karnataka High Court has directed search engines and judicial record-keepers to mask the name of a woman acquitted in 2019 under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, upholding the 'right to be forgotten' in the digital age. This landmark ruling reinforces privacy rights and the need to prevent obsolete accusations from stigmatizing individuals, with significant implications for data protection and judicial record management.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

CourtHigh Court of Karnataka
JudgeJustice M. Nagaprasanna
ActImmoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
Year of Acquittal2019
Prosecution Period2013-14
Key Entities DirectedRegistrars of HC, Bengaluru City Civil Court, State Police, Google, Indian Kanoon

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Court: High Court of Karnataka
  • ›Judge: Justice M. Nagaprasanna
  • ›Target this Data: 2019 (year of acquittal), 2013-14 (prosecution period)
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: High Court of Karnataka
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Right to be forgotten under Article 21

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

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

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which court issued the direction to mask the name of an acquitted woman from online records?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements:

1. The petitioner was acquitted of charges under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

2. The court directed only Google to mask the petitioner's name.

3. The petitioner is an Iranian national who was granted refugee status in Sweden.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

In which year was the petitioner acquitted by the trial court?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary objective of the High Court's direction to mask the acquitted woman's name?

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