PM Modi degree row: Delhi HC quashes CIC’s order of disclosing DU’s records for 1978

The Delhi High Court's Justice Sachin Datta on Monday quashed a Central Information Commission (CIC) order which directed disclosure of details connected to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bachelor's degree from Delhi University, according to reports.

The plea was filed by Delhi University, which had reportedly challenged the CIC 2016 directive allowing inspection of records of students who cleared the BA exam in 1978 — the same year of PM Modi's graduation.

As per reports, representing Delhi University, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the CIC’s order should be cancelled and the university has no objection to showing documents to the court.

Delhi University maintained that student records are held in a ‘fiduciary capacity’ (refers to a capacity of a person in holding title to a vessel or facility). Therefore, the records cannot be disclosed under the Right to Information Act based on “mere curiosity” without a valid public interest.

Before this, the CIC’s decision to furnish a copy of PM Modi’s degree certificate was quashed by the Gujarat High Court, too.

Former Delhi CM and AAP leader Sanjay Singh also face a defamation case initiated by Gujarat University registrar Piyush Patel after their remarks made during a press conference and on Twitter about PM Modi’s degree.