The Gujarat High Court has imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for questioning the educational qualification of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The court has rejected the Central Information Commission’s 2016 directions to Gujarat University, the Prime Minister’s Office, and Delhi University to share details of Modi’s graduation and post-graduation certificates. Justice Biren Vaishnav of the Gujarat High Court observed that as the authenticity of Modi’s degree certificate was already available in media and social media and university websites, Kejriwal should not have questioned it. The court also criticized Kejriwal for making a mockery of the Right to Information Act and accused him of an irresponsible request. Gujarat University had approached the High Court once morest the Central Information Right Commission’s order, and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared on behalf of the university. The court accepted Mehta’s contention that sharing the details would affect Modi’s privacy, and he said that the RTI cannot compel handover of degree details.
Ahmedabad: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal fined Rs 25,000 for asking PM Narendra Modi’s educational qualification A single bench of the Gujarat High Court passed the order.
The Gujarat High Court quashed the order to the Prime Minister’s Office to hand over details of Modi’s graduation and post-graduation certificates. The High Court also quashed the Central Information Commission’s 2016 directions to Gujarat University, Prime Minister’s Office and Delhi University. The order came from Justice Biren Vaishnav of the Gujarat High Court.
The court observed that Arvind Kejriwal should not have questioned the authenticity of Prime Minister Modi’s degree certificate as it was available in the media, social media and university websites. The court also criticized Arvind Kejriwal’s attempt to ask for details of graduation despite knowing that the RTI did not have the power to do so.
Plaintiff is neither appellant nor petitioner. The court also criticized Kejriwal for making a mockery of the purpose and intent of the Right to Information Act. “Records including degrees are personal information of a citizen and are exempted from the RTI Act under Section 8(1) of the RTI Act”. – The judge explained.
Gujarat University approached the High Court once morest the Central Information Right Commission order. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared on behalf of Gujarat University. Modi claims to have graduated from Gujarat College of Arts in 1978 and post-graduate degree from Delhi University in 1983.
The court accepted Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s contention that sharing the details would affect Modi’s privacy. Advocating for the university, Tushar Mehta said the RTI cannot compel handover of degree details. Tushar Mehta criticized Kejriwal for destroying the heart and soul of the RTI Act. Tushar Mehta accused Kejriwal of making an irresponsible request.
In conclusion, the Gujarat High Court’s decision to fine Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for questioning Prime Minister Modi’s educational qualifications has set a precedent for the protection of an individual’s privacy. The court’s ruling that degree certificates are personal information exempt from the Right to Information Act highlights the responsibility we all have to be mindful of privacy concerns. While transparency and access to information are important, they should not come at the expense of an individual’s privacy. As we continue to strive for accountability in public office, it is crucial to strike a balance between transparency and privacy.
