High Court Negates Request for Details on PM Modi’s Degree, Arvind Kejriwal Fined

Gujarat High Court has negated the demand for details on PM Narendra Modi’s degree and also fined AAP leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for asking for these details. Officials believe that this information is not pertinent to PM Modi holding office and that the university should be asked to disclose this information.

In 2016, the Central Information Commission asked the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Gujarat University, and Delhi University to present information on PM Modi’s graduation and post-graduation degrees based on an RTI (Right to Information) request. According to election documents, PM Modi graduated from Gujarat University in 1978 and completed his Master’s degree from Delhi University in 1983. The Gujarat University challenged this order at the High Court.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated last month that the university should not be asked to disclose this information. He claimed that the level of education of a person holding office does not matter in a democracy. “In a democracy, there won’t be a difference if a person holding the office is a doctorate or an illiterate. Also, there is no public interest involved in this issue. Even his privacy is affected,” he said. Mehta also called the demand for this information “childish and irresponsible curiosity.”

Now, the Gujarat High Court has said that there is no need to share the details of PM Modi’s degrees. It also fined Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Rs. 25,000 for asking for these details. He must deposit the money within four weeks at the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority.

Kejriwal responded to the court’s decision in a tweet and said, “Does the country not have the right to know how educated their Prime Minister is? They vehemently opposed revealing his degree in court. Why? And the person asking to see the degree will be fined? What is happening? An uneducated or less educated PM is dangerous for the country.”

Percy Kavina, Kejriwal’s lawyer, stated that they are asking for PM Modi’s degree certificate and not his mark sheets. The AAP is trying to highlight the PM’s educational qualifications as part of its aggressive campaign and has put up posters in many cities targeting PM Modi.

Vineet Washington