Karnataka High Court
Gayatri Das Choudhury vs The Registrar Administration on 13 July, 2023
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NC: 2023:KHC:24320
WP No. 17680 of 2022
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF JULY, 2023
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA
WRIT PETITION NO. 17680 OF 2022 (GM-RES)
BETWEEN:
GAYATRI DAS CHOUDHURY,
W/O PRANJAL CHOUDHURY,
AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS,
R/AT NO. B-406,
SLSN SAPHIRE TRINITY, PANNATHUR,
BENGALURU - 560 087.
...PETITIONER
(BY SMT. SIJI MALAYIL., ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE REGISTRAR ADMINISTRATION,
HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,
BENGALURU-560 001.
2. THE REGISTRAR GENERAL,
HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,
BENGALURU-560 001.
3. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,
Digitally
signed by BY HSR LAYOUT POLICE STATION,
BHARATHI S REPRESENTED BY SPP,
Location:
HIGH COURT HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,
OF
KARNATAKA BENGALURU - 560 001.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SMT. VIDYULATHA., ADV FOR R1 & R2 (VK NOT FILED);
SMT. RASHMI PATEL., HCGP FOR R3)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT R1 TO REMOVE
NAME OF THE PETITIONER IN THE DIGITAL RECORDS MAINTAINED
BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT, IN CRL.P.NO.7606/2015 AS
INDICATED IN THE RANK OF R2 AT ANNEXURE-B, TO THE EXTENT
OF THE SAME NOT BEING VISIBLE FOR THE SEARCH ENGINE
INCLUDING GOOGLE OR OTHER SEARCH ENGINES INCLUDING THE
WEBSITE OF INDIAN KANNON AND CASEMINE AND ETC.
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NC: 2023:KHC:24320
WP No. 17680 of 2022
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN
'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:
ORDER
Heard Smt Siji Malayil, counsel for the petitioner, Smt.Vidhyulatha, counsel for respondents No.1 and 2 and Smt.Rashmi Patel, HCGP for respondent No.3.
2. The present writ petition is filed seeking for the following reliefs :
i) Pass further order directing respondent No.1 to remove the name of the petitioner in the digital records maintained by the Hon'ble High Court, in Crl.P.No.7606/2015 as indicated in the rank of Respondent No.2 at Annexure B, to the extent of the same not being visible for search engine including Google or other search engines including the website of 'Indian Kanoon' and 'Casemine';
ii) Pass further order directing the learned City Civil and Sessions Judge, FTSC-III, Bengaluru, to remove the name of the Petitioner, in the digital records maintained by the City Civil and Sessions Court, FTSC-III, Bengaluru, in Spl.
C.C.No.581/2015 to the extent of the same not being visible in the website and mobile application of 'e-Courts Services'.
3. It is the case of the petitioner that privacy is required to be mentioned to ensure confidentiality of the legal proceedings initiated by her. A request was made vide letter dated 30.7.2022, (Annexure- C to the writ petition) to respondent No.1 for removal of the name -3- NC: 2023:KHC:24320 WP No. 17680 of 2022 and details from the digital records of this Court. Since the same has not been done, the present writ petition is filed.
4. Smt. Vidhyulatha, counsel appearing for respondents no.1 and 2 submits that needful has been done by respondents No.1 and
2.
5. A communication dated 22.9.2022 issued by the Registrar General of this Court-respondent no.2, is placed on record, wherein it is stated that, steps have been taken for masking the name and address of the petitioner who was the second respondent in Criminal Petition No.7606/2015 in the digital records of this Court. Further, with regard to Special C.C.No.581/2015 on the file of the Additional City Civil and Sessions Court, FTSC-III, Bengaluru and the Principal City Civil and Sessions Judge, City Civil Court, Bengaluru, they have been informed to mask the name and address of the petitioner in the digital records maintained in their Court.
6. Having regard to the submission made and the communication dated 22.9.2022, the first relief sought for by the petitioner in the present writ petition does not survive for consideration.
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NC: 2023:KHC:24320 WP No. 17680 of 2022
7. With regard to the second relief, as noticed in the communication at 22.9.2022, the respective courts have been informed to mask the name and address of the complainant.
8. In view of the same, in the considered opinion of this Court, the writ petition can be disposed of by permitting the petitioner to make a representation to the Registrar of the City Civil Court, Bengaluru, to mask/remove the name of the petitioner from the digital records of the said Court within one week from today and if such a representation is made, the same shall be considered by the Registrar of the City Civil Court, Bengaluru, within two weeks of receipt of the said representation notwithstanding the communication issued by the Registrar General of this Court. Ordered accordingly.
Writ petition stands disposed off.
SD/-
JUDGE rs/List No.: 38 Sl No.: 39 CT:STK