PM Modi’s Degree Case: Gujarat High Court Rejects Arvind Kejriwal's Review Plea

The Gujarat High Court has dismissed a plea by Arvind Kejriwal challenging the correctness of the Court's 31 March judgment, which stated that Gujarat University was not obligated to provide information about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's academic degree.

The decision comes following a review plea by the Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal.

Kejriwal filed the review plea after the High Court earlier set aside an order by the Chief Information Commission (CIC), which had directed that details of Prime Minister Modi's degree be furnished.

The CIC order was passed on an application by Kejriwal under the Right to Information Act (RTI Act).

After the CIC ordered the Gujarat University to disclose these details, the varsity filed an appeal before the Gujarat High Court to challenge the CIC decision.

The High Court allowed the appeal and also imposed costs of Rs 25,000 on Kejriwal for making a mockery of the RTI Act.

Senior Advocate Percy Kavina, representing Kejriwal, argued that the Court's earlier observations regarding his client's conduct were unwarranted.

As reported by BarandBench, Kavina disputed the Court's finding that disclosing the Prime Minister's degree was unrelated to the 'larger public interest.'

Kavina also challenged the Gujarat University's assertion that the degree was available on its official website, stating that it was not the same degree available on the internet.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Gujarat University, contended that the review plea was an attempt to prolong the controversy unnecessarily.

Mehta defended the Court's previous findings and claimed that Kejriwal had abused the provisions of the RTI Act.

He emphasised that the Prime Minister's degree was not related to his public office and criticised the political controversy that had arisen from the matter.