Delhi High Court: Acquitted Person’s Right to Dignity Can Override Freedom of Press

The Delhi High Court has held that an individual’s right to dignity and reputation under Article 21 can prevail over the freedom of the press guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a).

Upholding a trial court order, the Court directed the de-indexing of news articles reporting a banker’s arrest after he was discharged from an Enforcement Directorate case.

Justice C.S. Sudha observed that the continued digital availability of such reports causes lasting and disproportionate reputational harm.

Rejecting the argument that merely adding updates was sufficient, the Court dismissed the appeal filed by Indian Express, affirming that removal from search results was necessary in the circumstances.

[IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd v. Nitin Bhatnagar & Ors.]