Delhi High Court Rejects CIC Order, Rules PM Modi’s Academic Degree Will Not Be Made Public

National News: In the case related to PM Narendra Modi's degree, the Delhi High Court on Monday cancelled the order of the Central Information Commission (CIC), which directed the disclosure of the information related to the Prime Minister's bachelor's degree. Delhi University has gotten relief from this decision of the court. The High Court had reserved the decision on the case on 27 February.

Justice Sachin Dutta gave this decision on the petition of Delhi University challenging the order of the CIC. Justice Sachin Dutta had reserved his decision on 27 February.

PM Modi’s 1978 Bachelor Degree

Following a Right to Information (RTI) application by a man named Neeraj, the CIC had on December 21, 2016, ordered an inspection of the records of all students who had passed the BA (Bachelor of Arts) examination in 1978. Prime Minister Modi had also passed the same examination in the year 1978.

The Delhi High Court had stayed the CIC order on January 23, 2017. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the university, argued that the CIC order should be revoked. However, Mehta also told the court that the university has no objection to showing its records to the court.

DU Lawyer Allows Record Access

He said, "The university has no objection to showing the records to the court. There is a Bachelor of Arts degree from 1978." The university challenged the CIC order on the ground that it holds student information in a fiduciary capacity and no one has the right to seek personal information under the RTI Act on the ground of “mere curiosity” in the absence of public interest.

HC Ruling On Smriti Irani

Earlier, the counsel for the RTI applicants defended the CIC order on the ground that the Right to Information (RTI) Act provides for knowing the educational details of PM Modi in the larger public interest. Apart from PM Modi, the Delhi High Court has given its verdict in the case related to Smriti Irani. The High Court has cancelled the order directing CBSE to provide information under RTI on whether Smriti had passed the 10th and 12th examinations in the years 1991 and 1993 or not.