The observations made by the Gujarat High Court emphasize the responsibility of the media in reporting news, especially when it concerns the reputation and privacy of individuals. The court acknowledges that once an FIR is quashed, there is no legal basis for continuing to circulate news articles related to the original complaint. It highlights that such articles could give the impression that a criminal case is pending against the person, which can harm their reputation and goodwill.
The court also takes Into account the ‘right to be forgotten’ as a facet of the ‘right to privacy,’ which has been recognized by the Supreme Court in the past. This right implies that individuals should have control over the retention and dissemination of their personal information, especially when it is no longer relevant or necessary.
The court seems to be of the opinion that it is the media’s duty to be transparent and accountable for what it publishes to the public. Once the case is quashed, the media should take steps to remove the initial article to avoid misleading the public.
However, the court also gives a chance for the parties involved to resolve the dispute themselves, indicating that a resolution between the NRI businessman and the news media houses might be possible without further legal intervention.
Name- Divya Choudhary , College- National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi. , Semester-2nd semester (1ST Year), an intern under Legal Vidhiya.
