सुप्रीम कोर्ट का 'राइट टू बी फॉरगॉटन' पर निर्णय

Q1. The Supreme Court of India, in its May 2, 2026 judgment, declared the 'Right to be Forgotten' as an integral part of which fundamental right?

1. Right to Equality (Article 14)
2. Freedom of Speech and Expression (Article 19(1)(a))
3. Right to Life and Personal Liberty (Article 21)
4. Right against Exploitation (Article 23)

Explanation: The Supreme Court explicitly linked the 'Right to be Forgotten' to Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the Right to Life and Personal Liberty. This right is considered crucial for protecting an individual's dignity and privacy in the digital age.

Q2. According to the Supreme Court's ruling, the 'Right to be Forgotten' is not considered absolute. It must be balanced against which of the following?

1. Right to Property (Article 300A)
2. Freedom of Speech and Expression (Article 19(1)(a)) and Public Interest
3. Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32)
4. Right to Freedom of Religion (Article 25)

Explanation: The judgment clearly states that the 'Right to be Forgotten' is not absolute and needs to be balanced with the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression (Article 19(1)(a)) and the legitimate public interest in accessing information.

Q3. Which international regulation, dealing with data protection and privacy, was referenced in the context of the Indian Supreme Court's judgment on the 'Right to be Forgotten'?

1. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
2. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
3. The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
4. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Explanation: The Supreme Court's decision acknowledged the global trend in data protection and drew parallels with international frameworks, notably mentioning the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which includes provisions similar to the 'Right to be Forgotten'.

Q4. The Supreme Court's recognition of the 'Right to be Forgotten' is seen as a significant development following which earlier landmark Indian Supreme Court judgment?

1. Maneka Gandhi vs. Union of India (1978)
2. Kesavananda Bharati vs. State of Kerala (1973)
3. Shreya Singhal vs. Union of India (2015)
4. Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) vs. Union of India (2017)

Explanation: The 2017 judgment in the Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) case, which established the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21, laid the constitutional groundwork for subsequent interpretations and recognitions, including the 'Right to be Forgotten'.

Q5. What is a key implication of the Supreme Court's ruling on the 'Right to be Forgotten' for individuals?

1. It grants an absolute right to remove all past online information.
2. It allows individuals to control their digital footprint by removing outdated or irrelevant personal data.
3. It mandates search engines to proactively delete all user data without request.
4. It prioritizes public interest over individual privacy in all digital matters.

Explanation: The ruling empowers individuals to manage their online presence by seeking the removal of personal information that is no longer relevant or in the public interest, thereby helping them control their digital footprint and protect their reputation.