Ahmedabad13 minutes ago
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The Gujarat High Court had ruled on March 31 that Gujarat University would not have to give information related to Prime Minister Modi’s degree.
Arvind Kejriwal has reached the Gujarat High Court in the matter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree. He has demanded the High Court to review its March 31 decision.
In this decision, the Gujarat High Court quashed the order of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) to give details related to the degree of Prime Minister Modi.
Know what is the matter…
In April 2016, CM Kejriwal wrote a letter to the Central Information Commission (CIC) demanding that information related to PM Modi’s educational qualification be made public. He wrote in the letter that the degree should be made public to remove any confusion on this issue.
After this, the CIC was asked to provide information to Kejriwal about PM Modi’s MA degree from Gujarat University. This order of CIC was challenged by the University in the High Court.
The Gujarat High Court, in its judgment of 31 March, quashed this order of the CIC. Along with this, a fine of 25 thousand rupees was also imposed on Arvind Kejriwal. The fine of Rs 25,000 has also been challenged in this review petition.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, on behalf of the university, argued that there is no compulsion to give academic information to third persons under RTI.
No compulsion to give degree to third person
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared on behalf of the university in the court. He had said in the court that just because someone is holding a public position, his personal information should not be sought. In a democracy, it does not matter whether the person holding the post is a doctor or illiterate.
PM Modi’s degree is already in the public domain, but there is no obligation under RTI to disclose the degree to a third person. The university cannot be compelled to disclose the degrees, especially when it is not in the public interest. He said that no information can be given to meet any unreasonable demand. Mehta said that the information sought has nothing to do with the Prime Minister’s work.
After the verdict came on March 31, Kejriwal targeted PM Modi by tweeting.
Kejriwal said – Prime Minister’s degree is not on the website
Kejriwal said in the petition – Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the university in the court, had said that PM Modi’s degree is available on the website of Gujarat University. But, we could not find the Prime Minister’s degree on the website. There only a copy of the office register is available, which is different from the degree.
Opposition to the fine of 25 thousand
Kejriwal has also opposed the fine of Rs 25,000 imposed on him. He said in the petition- I had not made any application to get the degree information. I had written only a letter in reply to the letter of CIC. Taking cognizance of this, the CIC had ordered to give the details of the degree.
Only the judge who gave the decision will hear the petition
The single judge bench of Gujarat High Court Justice Biren Vaishnav had given its verdict in the case. Justice Biren Vaishnav will also hear Kejriwal’s petition to consider the decision. They have sent notices to Gujarat University, the current Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), the then CIC Professor M. Sridhar Acharyalu and the central government.