A division bench of the Gujarat High Court dismissed Arvind Kejriwal’s appeal in the case involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational degrees. The court upheld a single-judge bench’s decision that struck down a 2016 Central Information Commission directive. It also upheld the 25,000 rupee fine imposed on Kejriwal.
Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal suffered a setback from the Gujarat High Court in the case related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree. The court on Tuesday dismissed Kejriwal’s appeal seeking a direction to Gujarat University to make the Prime Minister’s academic degrees public. Gujarat High Court
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D.N. Ray upheld the single judge’s decision, stating that there was no basis to interfere with the single judge’s decision. The bench also upheld the ₹25,000 fine imposed on Kejriwal.
What did the High Court say while upholding the fine order?
The High Court stated in its order, “After a thorough examination of the facts and circumstances of the case, no error was found in the challenged judgment on any of the grounds cited by the appellant. The appeal is therefore dismissed.” Gujarat High Court
On March 31, 2023, a single bench of the Gujarat High Court struck down the 2016 Central Information Commission (CIC) order. Kejriwal was also fined ₹25,000. The court also criticized him for misusing RTI rules and calling his stance false.
What did Kejriwal’s lawyer argue?
During the appeal hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, questioned the basis for imposing the ₹25,000 fine. He said his client had “not consistently insisted” on receiving the Prime Minister’s degree, despite the single bench’s finding otherwise. Gujarat High Court
Singhvi also argued that the CIC had initiated the proceedings suo motu, making Kejriwal a respondent based on a letter rather than a formal application.
What was Gujarat University’s response to PM Modi’s degree?
Gujarat University had told a single bench that the Prime Minister’s degree was already available online. However, in a review petition filed before the single bench, Kejriwal’s lawyers argued that the degree was never made available online. The court rejected this argument as well. Gujarat High Court
Kejriwal’s lawyers argued that if the degree was indeed available online, it should fall under the RTI Act, and in such a case, the basis for pursuing the case should be lost. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Gujarat University, opposed these arguments. He stated that Kejriwal continued to pursue the case and even held press conferences to defame the institute.
Mehta urged the court to impose a fine on Kejriwal, arguing that this would prevent misuse of the RTI Act and prevent government officials from wasting their working time on requests that defy the law’s purpose. Gujarat High Court
What is the entire matter related to PM Modi’s degree?
This matter dates back to 2016. At that time, Kejriwal wrote a letter to the Central Information Commission demanding that the Prime Minister’s degrees be made public. In April 2016, the then CIC, M. Sridhar Acharyulu, directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to provide Kejriwal with information regarding Modi’s degrees.
Nearly three months later, when Gujarat University approached the High Court, the court stayed the CIC’s order. The CIC’s order came a day after Kejriwal’s letter. In his letter, Kejriwal stated that he had no objection to the public disclosure of government records about himself. He also questioned why the Commission wanted to “conceal” information regarding Modi’s educational qualifications. Gujarat High Court
Childish curiosity under the RTI Act: Gujarat University
Based on this letter, the CIC directed Gujarat University to provide Kejriwal with records related to PM Modi’s educational qualifications. Gujarat University strongly opposed the CIC order. The university stated that an individual’s “irresponsible childish curiosity” cannot constitute public interest under the RTI Act. In May 2016, Gujarat University’s then Vice Chancellor, MN Patel, stated that Prime Minister Modi completed his MA in Political Science in 1983 as an external student with 62.3 percent marks.
Gujarat University challenged the CIC’s order in the High Court, posting the degree information on its website. A single bench subsequently struck down the CIC’s order. The court also commented on the CIC’s “judicial activism” and imposed a cost of ₹25,000 on Kejriwal. Kejriwal subsequently challenged the single bench’s decision in a division bench of the High Court. On Tuesday, the division bench dismissed his appeal. Gujarat High Court
Conclusion
The Gujarat High Court’s decision has kept the focus on the ongoing PM Modi degree case involving Arvind Kejriwal. The court rejected Kejriwal’s appeal and retained the fine imposed in the matter. The development is likely to keep the issue in the public and legal spotlight. Readers should note that court proceedings can involve further legal steps, so the latest official court records should be checked for any future developments. Gujarat High Court
FAQs
1. What is the PM Modi degree case about?
The case relates to requests and legal proceedings concerning the disclosure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree-related records.
2. What did the Gujarat High Court decide?
The Gujarat High Court rejected Arvind Kejriwal’s appeal in the matter and kept the fine in place.
3. Who is Arvind Kejriwal?
Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician and the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party.
4. Has the matter ended completely after the High Court decision?
Not necessarily. Further legal proceedings or challenges may be possible depending on the applicable legal process and decisions by the parties involved.
5. Why is the PM Modi degree case in the news?
The matter has attracted attention because it concerns the disclosure of educational records and has involved legal proceedings between the parties.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for general news and informational purposes only. The information is based on publicly available reports and details concerning the court proceedings. Court cases can develop further, and legal positions may change with subsequent orders or appeals. Readers should refer to official court records and reliable sources for the latest updates. This article does not provide legal advice or express any political opinion.
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Mohammad Raza is the author of XYZ News Live and has over 2 years of experience in digital content writing. His focus is on presenting news and important information in a simple, clear, and accessible language for readers.