Ajit Karn
New Delhi: Today, the High Court overturned an order requiring Gujarat University to disclose details of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degrees, stating that the information is irrelevant to Modi’s position.
Justice Biren Vaishnav of the Gujarat High Court also fined Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal 25,000 for requesting these publicly available details.
“The insistence of Arvind Kejriwal to get the educational degree of Prime Minister Narendra Modi through RTI route, when the same is already available in the public domain, creates doubt on Kejriwal’s bonafide and motive. Arvind Kejriwal doubtlessly used an appeal against him to kickstart and trigger a controversy not falling within the purview of the RTI Act for the objects and purpose this court need not go into,” Justice Vaishnav said in strong remarks.
In 2016, in response to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader’s RTI (Right to Information) request for information on the Prime Minister’s education, then-Central Information Commission M Sridhar Acharyulu directed the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Gujarat University, and Delhi University to provide details on PM Modi’s undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The Gujarat University promptly posted PM Modi’s degree on its website, but also challenged the Information Commission’s order on principle.
The ruling BJP provided copies of what it claimed to be the Prime Minister’s degrees: a Bachelor of Arts from Delhi University and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Gujarat University. Mr. Kejriwal had then alleged that the documents contained “glaring inconsistencies.”
Last month, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued before the Gujarat High Court that the two universities should not be required to disclose the information.
“In a democracy, it makes no difference whether the person holding the office has a doctorate or is illiterate. Furthermore, there is no public interest involved in this matter. Even his privacy is at stake,” a top government attorney stated, insisting that the information on the PM’s degrees had no bearing on his position.
Mr. Mehta stated, “We cannot be asked to provide information to satiate someone’s childish and irresponsible curiosity.”
Additionally, the Solicitor General stated that any information requested under RTI must pertain to public activity. “They cannot inquire about my brunch, but they can inquire about how much I spent on it,” he remarked.
The attorney for Mr. Kejriwal countered that election nomination forms list educational qualifications and that it was a valid request. “We are requesting a degree certificate, not a transcript,” said Percy Kaviny.
The court order increases the controversy surrounding the AAP’s aggressive campaign emphasizing the Prime Minister’s education. The party has posted anti-Prime Minister Modi posters in multiple cities.
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Mr. Kejriwal, who was asked to pay the fine within four weeks, tweeted: “Does the country not have the right to know how educated its prime minister is? They vehemently opposed revealing his degree in court. Why? And the person requesting to see the degree will be fined? What is going on? An uneducated or poorly educated prime minister is dangerous for the country.”
The BJP accused the Chief Minister of Delhi of misrepresenting the facts and acting out of “frustration” over allegations of ministerial corruption.
Sambit Patra, a spokesperson for the BJP, stated, “History is replicating itself today…This is nothing new for Kejriwal and his party.”
