In the digital age, a profile picture on Facebook or a display photograph on WhatsApp is much more than a person’s identity. With search engines giving details about any person in any corner of the world, people who are conscious of their image offline are ensuring their online representation, too, is unblemished.

In a first-of-its-kind ruling, the High Court of Karnataka has allowed a person’s name to be deleted from its online records, including the digital order copy. Sowmya (name changed) was kidnapped and forcibly married. There was a marriage certificate, too. Later, she lodged a complaint with the police and approached the court urging it to restrain her “husband” — who she said had kidnapped her with the help of two others — from claiming any marital rights over her on the basis of the marriage certificate.