Ahmedabad, November 9, 2023 – The Gujarat High Court has upheld its earlier decision and rejected a review petition filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. This petition sought a reconsideration of the court’s ruling that had set aside the Central Information Commission’s (CIC) directive to Gujarat University, requesting information about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational degree.
In March of this year, Justice Biren Vaishnav of the Gujarat High Court had ruled in favor of Gujarat University, allowing the institution’s appeal against the CIC’s order. The CIC had initially directed Gujarat University to provide information about Prime Minister Modi’s Master of Arts (MA) degree to Arvind Kejriwal, who leads the Aam Aadmi Party. Additionally, the court had imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the Delhi Chief Minister.
One of the primary arguments put forth by Arvind Kejriwal in his review petition was that, contrary to Gujarat University’s claims, there was no evidence of Prime Minister Modi’s degree being available online on the university’s website.
The legal battle between Kejriwal and Gujarat University over the disclosure of Prime Minister Modi’s educational qualifications has been ongoing for several years. Kejriwal, a prominent political figure and vocal critic of the Prime Minister, had been a strong advocate for transparency on this issue. He and his party had argued that the public has the right to know the educational background of the country’s top leader.
In response, Gujarat University had consistently maintained that the information about Prime Minister Modi’s degree was already in the public domain and was available online. However, this assertion had been challenged by Kejriwal, who contended that despite extensive searches, no such information could be found on the university’s official website.
The Gujarat High Court’s decision to uphold its earlier ruling further deepens the controversy surrounding the disclosure of Prime Minister Modi’s educational qualifications. This issue has remained a contentious topic in Indian politics, with various political leaders and organizations voicing differing opinions on the matter.
The court’s verdict reflects its stance on the importance of adhering to due legal process and maintaining the sanctity of institutional decisions. The ongoing legal battle has now reached another milestone, leaving both supporters and opponents of the Prime Minister’s government eagerly anticipating the outcome of this contentious issue.
