On Thursday, the Delhi High Court reserved its judgment on Delhi University’s petition challenging a 2016 Central Information Commission (CIC) directive regarding the disclosure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bachelor’s degree details.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the CIC’s order should be overturned, stating that its implementation in the manner sought by the petitioner could disrupt the functioning of public authorities.
He stressed that the court could review the records but should not grant access to individuals driven by political or publicity interests.
The Centre supported this stance, asserting that an extensive application of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in such cases could negatively impact public institutions.
After considering the arguments, a bench led by Justice Sachin Datta reserved its verdict on the matter.
The dispute originated when an RTI applicant, Neeraj, sought access to the records of students who completed their BA in 1978—the same year PM Modi earned his degree.
The CIC had permitted the inspection, but Delhi High Court stayed the order in 2017.
Delhi University argued that it holds such records in a fiduciary capacity and that general curiosity, without substantial public interest, does not justify revealing personal academic details under the RTI Act.
Meanwhile, the CIC maintained that as a public institution, DU’s degree records qualify as public documents.
The court will soon decide whether to disclose PM Modi’s degree details.
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