R.Manivasakan v. The Secretary To Government
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 29-06-2026
CORAM
THE HON'BLE DR JUSTICE G. JAYACHANDRAN AND THE HON'BLE MRS.JUSTICE N. MALA Writ Petition No. 2709 of 2026 and W.M.P.No. 2970 of 2026 R.Manivasakan (xxxx) ..Petitioner Vs
1. The Secretary to Government Represented by Union of India, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, 6 Lodhi Road, CGO Complex, Pragati Vihar, Electronics Niketan, New Delhi-110003
2. The Registrar General The Hon'ble High Court of Madras (Principal Bench) Chennai-600 104
3. The Registrar (IT -Cum-Statistics) The Honble High Court of Madras (Principal Bench), Chennai-600 104
4. The Indian Kanoon Rep. By its Proprietor Sushant Sinha, Office Address at No.724, 1st Floor 9th Cross, 10th Main Road, Indiranagar, Bengaluru-560 038
5. Google India Private Ltd., Google LLC, Rep. By its Managing Director, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States, Regional Head Office for India at No.3, RMZ Infinity, Tower E, Old Madras Road, Bangalore -560 016
6. Manupatra Information Solution Private Limited Rep. by its Managing Director, B.37, Sector 1, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301
7. SCC Online, Rep. by its Managing Director, Eastern Book Co. Pvt. Ltd., 5-B, Atma Ram House, 1, Tolstoy Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi-110001
8. WWW. CASEMINE .COM Rep. By its Founder Aniruddha Yadav, 2102-2103 Express Trade Tower-2, Sector 132 Noida, Uttar Pradesh -201301
9. Supreme Today AI Rep. by its Managing Director, M/s. Vinodh Publications (P) Ltd., 3A BQ, Market, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi-110088 ..Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents 2 and 3 to redact/remove the name and address details of the petitioner and his son M. Niranjan in the digital records maintained by the Hon'ble High Court of Madras
in O.P.No.197 of 2010 order dated 31.10.2012 and consequently to direct the respondents 4 to 9 to redact/remove the name and address of the petitioner and his son M. Niranjan in the digital records and search engine maintained by them and to pass.
For Petitioner:
Mr.Rajasrinivas For M/s. P.V.S.Giridhar Associates For Respondents:
Ms.S. Indumathi Ravi Special Government Pleader For R1 Mr.P.Ebenezer Paul For R2 and R3
ORDER
(Order of the Court was made by Dr.G.Jayachandran J.) This Writ Petition has been filed seeking a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to redact or remove the names of the petitioner and his son from the judgment passed in O.P. No. 197 of 2010 on the file of this Court, before uploading or displaying it on online platforms, in order to protect their right to privacy.
2.
The petitioner herein has filed O.P.No.421 of 2004 before the Family Court, Chennai, seeking dissolution of his marriage and obtained a divorce decree. Thereafter, he sought custody of his son by filing O.P.No.197 of 2010 before this Court. The order passed in the custody petition has been uploaded on various digital legal databases and online search engines, including Indian Kanoon, Google India Private Limited, Manupatra Information Solution
Private Limited, SCC Online, WWW. CASEMINE .COM and Supreme Today AI, who are arrayed as respondents herein.
3.
The Judgment of High Court and the Hon'ble Supreme Court including Justice K.S.Puttuswamy Vs. Union of India case cited in support of the prayer.
4.
Considering the plea of the petitioner, who intends to preserve his privacy and if such preservation is not acquired by way of information uploading of the judgment, we are of the view that the providers of search engines who are arrayed as respondents are to be directed to redact the names wherever found in the judgment relating to the petitioner and his son. 5.
With the above directions, this Writ Petition stands disposed of. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. No costs. (Dr.G.J.,J.) (N.M.,J.) 29-06-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order rpl
To 1.The Secretary to Government Represented by Union of India, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, 6 Lodhi Road, CGO Complex, Pragati Vihar, Electronics Niketan, New Delhi-110003 2.The Registrar General The Hon'ble High Court of Madras (Principal Bench) Chennai-600 104 3.The Registrar (IT -Cum-Statistics) The Honble High Court of Madras (Principal Bench), Chennai-600 104
DR.G.JAYACHANDRAN J.
and N.MALA J.
rpl Writ Petition No. 2709 of 2026 and W.M.P.No. 2970 of 2026 29-06-2026