The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (March 5) issued notice on a writ petition filed by Sri Lankan Supreme Court judge Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz, who has sought removal of online material he claims is defamatory. The petition invokes the “right to be forgotten” under the Constitution of India.
Justice Nawaz asked the Court to direct the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Google India to remove all allegedly defamatory content concerning him. He also sought directions to prevent the publication or circulation of similar material in the future.
The petition further requested the Court to impose a complete ban on URL-based searches linked to the alleged defamatory content. Justice Nawaz also asked the Court to allow him “to be forgotten for a crime” that he claims he never committed.
Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum, while issuing notice, passed the following order:
“Sri Manu P Kulkarni, learned standing counsel is directed to accept notice for respondents No.2 and 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner is hereby directed to serve notice to respondents No.4 and 5 through E-mail. Learned counsel for the petitioner shall serve two sets of copies of the writ petition on the standing counsel. Re-list this matter in preliminary hearing on 16.03.2026.”
The High Court also issued notice to two Sri Lankan news publications — Colombo Telegraph and Lanka e-News. According to the petition, these platforms published the content that the petitioner describes as defamatory.
The petition states that Justice Nawaz chose not to initiate legal proceedings in Sri Lanka. He argued that such action could create an apprehension of bias because he currently serves as a sitting judge of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court.
Case Title: Justice A.H.M.D Nawaz v. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology & Ors.
