Why in News?
The Supreme Court of India is examining whether the Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) applies to online news portals, in an appeal arising from a Delhi High Court judgment that ordered limited removal of digital content.
Description:
Key Term: Right to be Forgotten (RTBF): The right of an individual to restrict, delink, or erase personal data that is no longer necessary, relevant, or proportionate.
Constitutional & Legal Basis:
Article 21 – Right to Life and Personal Liberty
- Interpreted by courts to include the right to privacy
- Privacy encompasses personal autonomy, informational self-determination, protection of dignity, and reputation.
Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017):
- Recognised privacy as a fundamental right
- Held that informational privacy is an intrinsic part of Article 21
- Laid the constitutional foundation for RTBF claims, though not explicitly naming RTBF as a standalone right
Statutory Position in India:
- No explicit statutory Right to be Forgotten currently in force
- RTBF claims are Judge-made and evolved through constitutional interpretation
- Courts apply a case-by-case balancing test between Article 21 (privacy, dignity), Article 19(1)(a) (freedom of speech and expression)
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2026 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
â—‰ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
â—‰ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
â—‰ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040