New Delhi: Delhi High Court has accepted the petition filed by Delhi University against the order of Central Information Commission on the matter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree controversy and has cancelled the order of Central Information Commission. Justice Sachin Dutta’s bench ordered to cancel the order of Central Information Commission.
‘Degree cannot be shown to any stranger’: The court had reserved the decision on 27 February. During the hearing on this matter, Delhi University had said that it can show the degree to the court but not to any stranger. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of Delhi University, had said that the degree of a student is being demanded, who is the Prime Minister of the country today. He had said that Delhi University has nothing to hide. The university maintains the register every year. Mehta had said that Delhi University can show the degree to the court but the degree cannot be shown to any stranger.
Cannot be denied under RTI Act: During the hearing in this case, it was said on behalf of the petitioner that under RTI, giving a degree to a student is not a private act but a public act. During the hearing, the lawyer Shadan Farasat, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner, said that under RTI Act, Delhi University is a public authority. In such a situation, information about someone’s degree cannot be denied on the basis of the intention of the person seeking the information.
‘Public interest is not fulfilled by someone’s degree’: In fact, Neeraj Sharma, associated with Aam Aadmi Party, had sought information about Modi’s degrees from Delhi University under RTI Act. Delhi University refused to share it, calling it private information.
According to the university, no public interest is fulfilled by this. After that, Neeraj Sharma approached the Central Information Commission, which imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on Delhi University’s information officer Meenakshi Sahay. The commission also ordered to provide information related to the degree. Delhi University had approached the Delhi High Court against this decision of the Central Information Commission.
