PM Modi's Degree Case: Gujarat High Court Imposes Rs 25,000 Fine On Arvind Kejriwal, Says PMO Need Not Furnish Certificates

Justice Biren Vaishnav also set aside the order of the Chief Information Commission (CIC) which directed the public information officer (PIO) of PMO and the PIOs of Gujarat University and Delhi University to furnish details of PM Narendra Modi's graduate and postgraduate degrees

Gujarat High Court also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on Arvind Kejriwal who had sought details of PM Modi's degree certificate.

Gujarat High Court today ruled that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) need not furnish the graduate and post-graduate degree certificates of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Delivering the verdict, Justice Biren Vaishnav also set aside the 2016 order of the Chief Information Commission (CIC) which directed the public information officer (PIO) of PMO and the PIOs of Gujarat University and Delhi University to furnish details of PM Narendra Modi's graduate and postgraduate degrees, reported ANI.

According to the news agency, the Gujarat High Court also imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who had sought details of PM Modi's degree certificate. CM Kejriwal will have to deposit the amount with the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority within four weeks. Justice Vaishnav also refused to stay his order as requested by Kejriwal's lawyer Percy Kavina.

The HC allowed the Gujarat University's petition challenging the direction of CIC order directing the university to provide the details of PM Modi's Master in Arts (MA) degree under Right to Information Act (RTI). The Gujarat High Court had concluded hearing in the case on February 9 while reserving the order. 

Reacting to the judgement, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "Doesn't the country even have the right to know about the education of their PM? He vehemently opposed showing the degree in the court. Why? And those who demand to see his degrees will be fined? What is this happening? Illiterate or less educated PM is very dangerous for the country."

क्या देश को ये जानने का भी अधिकार नहीं है कि उनके PM कितना पढ़े हैं? कोर्ट में इन्होंने डिग्री दिखाए जाने का ज़बरदस्त विरोध किया। क्यों? और उनकी डिग्री देखने की माँग करने वालों पर जुर्माना लगा दिया जायेगा? ये क्या हो रहा है?

अनपढ़ या कम पढ़े लिखे PM देश के लिए बेहद ख़तरनाक हैं https://t.co/FtSru6rddI

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 31, 2023

The BJP also slammed Delhi CM Kejriwal after the verdict. "Lying & making obnoxious remarks, peddling lies against the chair of the PM has become a fashion & Kejriwal is in strong competition with Rahul Gandhi in this regard. But today he has been shown his place by High Court! Hope Kejriwal ji doesn’t make scurrilous comments on judiciary like Rahul now! That would count as being 'literate and yet uneducated'," said BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala.

Lying & making obnoxious remarks , peddling lies against the chair of the PM has become a fashion & Kejriwal is in strong competition with Rahul Gandhi in this regard. But today he has been shown his place by High Court !

Hope Kejriwal ji doesn’t make scurrilous comments on… https://t.co/AlNzNtCQhP — Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) March 31, 2023

The Gujarat University had filed a petition against the CIC order in 2016.  Three months later, the Gujarat High Court stayed the CIC order after the varsity approached it against that order. Appearing on behalf of the university on February 9 this year, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta had contended that disclosing a student’s degree under the RTI will violate the privacy of the individual. He also submitted before the court that information about PM Modi’s degrees is already in the public domain. He added that the university had also placed the details of the same on its website in the past.

Citing exceptions granted under the RTI Act for not complying with the order of the CIC, Mehta had also argued that the RTI Act is being used for settling scores and to make "childish jabs" against opponents. (With agency inputs)