'Academic record won't be disclosed': Delhi High Court quashes CIC order on PM Modi’s degree disclosure
PTC Web Desk: The Delhi High Court on Monday overturned the Central Information Commission’s (CIC) 2016 directive that required Delhi University (DU) to disclose details of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The ruling has left the door open for the petitioners to approach the Supreme Court.
The case traces back nearly a decade to an RTI plea filed in 2016, seeking access to records of all students who cleared the Bachelor of Arts examination from DU in 1978 — the year mentioned in PM Modi’s election affidavit as his graduation year. The university denied the request, citing confidentiality rules for third-party data.
However, the CIC overruled this reasoning in December 2016 and directed DU to allow inspection of the register, emphasising that educational qualifications of public figures, particularly the Prime Minister, should remain transparent. The CIC further described the register as a “public document.”
Challenging this order, Delhi University moved the High Court, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and its legal team. They argued that disclosing such records would violate the privacy rights of thousands of students and could set a precedent detrimental to public institutions. Mehta also suggested that the records could be presented in court for judicial scrutiny but should not be released publicly.
The university maintained that some individuals sought the data for political motives or publicity, while transparency advocates countered that the RTI Act does not assess the applicant’s intent. They further argued that a degree, being a qualification conferred by the state, is a matter of public interest when it concerns a national leader.
The High Court, which had reserved its verdict on February 27, has now sided with the university, striking down the CIC order. The legal battle over PM Modi’s degree could now escalate to the Supreme Court.
- With inputs from agencies
