The Gujarat University has said that the direction by the Central Information Commission to share copies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree certificate with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal under the Right to Information Act affects the PM’s privacy.
This was stated by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in the Gujarat High Court on Thursday.
The High Court was hearing an appeal filed by the Gujarat University challenging direction by the CIC to public information officer in the PM’s office and the PIOs of the Gujarat University and the Delhi University to furnish details about Modi’s graduation and post-graduation degrees.
Appearing on behalf of the university, Mehta said there was nothing to hide, but the university could not be compelled to disclose the information. Mehta went on to add that the PM’s privacy would be affected.
Justice Biren Vaishnav reserved the verdict after hearing both the parties.
Mehta said, “In democracy, there won’t be a difference if a person holding the office is a doctorate or an illiterate. Also, there is no public interest involved in this issue. Even his privacy is affected.” He also said that the information sought had nothing to do with the PM’s role as a public figure.
According to details furnished by Modi at different times, he completed graduation from Gujarat University in 1978 and post-graduation from Delhi University in 1983.
Senior advocate Percy Kavina, who appeared on behalf of Arvind Kejriwal, said there was no childish and irresponsible curiosity. She said that they were asking for the degree certificate and not the marksheet. Kavina even said that Modi’s nomination forms (filed during elections) mention about his educational qualifications.
She also said that as mentioned by the solicitor general, the degree was not available on the internet.
Kejriwal has been demanding to make Modi’s degree certificates public.
Other opposition parties have also time and again raked up the issue of Modi’s education qualifications.