UPSC Mains 2017 · GS II · Q12 · 15 marks · 250 words

Examine the scope of Fundamental Rights in the light of the latest judgement of the Supreme Court on Right to Privacy.

हिन्दी में

निजता के अधिकार पर उच्चतम न्यायालय के नवीनतम निर्णय के आलोक में, मौलिक अधिकारों के विस्तार का परीक्षण कीजिए।

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “The Right to be Forgotten is an integral part of individual autonomy and forms a basic pillar of the right to privacy. Comment.”

Chaitanya AwasthiAIR 37 · CSE 2022 · 209 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a constitutional or legal provision

In KS Puttuswamy case, Supreme Court of India recognized Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21. The Court observed that privacy is sine qua non for a dignified life and serves both normative as well as descriptive functions.

Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) entails removal of information pertaining to one's self from public records, documents, internet etc. RTBF has been recognized as a statutory right under EU's General Data Protection Regulation. However, in India it has not such status.

Why RTBF :

Body · points and prose

  1. Opportunity for a fresh start for people acquitted from Courts etc. to avoid prejudices.
  2. Be in control of one's data as a feature of true consent.
  3. Courts also observed that privacy includes deciding and having control over one's information.

CONCERNS (1) Public character of judgements and internet. (2) Necessary for administrative, law and order matters to retain records. (3) Internet like an infinite multiplies, difficult to remove once posted.

Close · a way forward

Justice BN Srikrishna has acknowledged the RTBF in Personal Data Protection Bill.

However, any such recommendation ought to pass the litmus test of fine balance between individual rights and social obligations.

If enforced properly will go a long way in addressing genuine case where people want removal of Personal information from internet.

2 more toppers’ answers to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper II, Q12. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.