Delhi High Court sets hearing date for 'right to be forgotten' cases in February

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has scheduled hearings for a group of petitions in February. These petitions seek the removal of online content invoking the right to privacy and the right to be forgotten.

Justice Navin Chawla has granted an extension for the parties to finalise their pleadings, and the Internet Freedom Forum has been permitted to intervene by submitting written submissions.

During the hearing, a petitioner's counsel requested the court to instruct Google to block search results related to allegations against the petitioner in a criminal case. The petitioner sought this action since a closure report had been filed by the investigating agency subsequently.

Google's senior counsel opposed the request, arguing that Google could not serve as a censor or an instrument for revising history. Justice Chawla noted that information published by websites may have been accurate at the time but had become "incomplete" in light of the later closure report.

The Central government lawyer informed the court that updated intermediary rules included mechanisms for grievance redressal and oversight, providing a means to address these issues.

The court confirmed it would proceed with the case, setting the next hearing dates for February 12 and 13 at 2:30 pm.

Among the petitioners is reality show celebrity Ashutosh Kaushik, who seeks the removal of various online content, including videos, photos, and articles, invoking the 'right to privacy' and the 'right to be forgotten.' This content pertains to his detention for alleged drunken driving in 2009.

Some of the petitions also pertain to the removal of court orders from websites.