Gujarat HC sets aside order for providing info on PM Modi’s degrees to Kejriwal In 2016, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had filed an RTI application seeking details about the educational qualifications of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The application was rejected by the Central Information Commission (CIC) citing that it was a “personal matter”. Kejriwal then approached the Delhi High Court, which dismissed his plea. However, he continued to pursue the matter and filed a writ petition in the Gujarat High Court seeking information on Modi’s educational degrees.
On March 29, 2023, the Gujarat High Court set aside the order of the Central Information Commission and allowed the writ petition filed by Kejriwal. The court directed the concerned authorities to provide information related to the educational qualifications of the Prime Minister within a period of four weeks.
The court observed that the information sought by Kejriwal was not personal but was related to the public domain. It also noted that the Prime Minister holds a public office and the people have a right to know about his educational qualifications.
The judgment is significant as it establishes the principle that the educational qualifications of public officials, including the Prime Minister, are in the public domain and can be accessed through RTI. This will have far-reaching implications for transparency and accountability in public life.
The case also highlights the importance of the RTI Act, which is a powerful tool for citizens to hold public officials accountable. The Act has been instrumental in exposing corruption, misuse of public funds, and other irregularities in governance.
However, the Act has faced several challenges, including bureaucratic resistance, delays in providing information, and lack of adequate safeguards for whistleblowers. The recent judgment by the Gujarat High Court is a positive development in this context, as it reaffirms the right of citizens to access information related to public officials.
It is important to note that the issue of Modi’s educational qualifications has been a matter of debate and controversy for several years. During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party had raised questions about Modi’s degrees, alleging that he had provided false information in his election affidavit.
Modi had claimed in his election affidavit that he had a Bachelor of Arts degree from the School of Open Learning at the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Political Science from Gujarat University. However, his opponents had alleged that the degrees were fake and that he had not provided sufficient evidence to prove his educational qualifications.
Modi had later released his degrees, which showed that he had indeed completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from the School of Open Learning at the University of Delhi in 1978 and his Master’s degree in Political Science from Gujarat University in 1983. However, the controversy had refused to die down, and questions continued to be raised about the authenticity of the degrees.
The recent judgment by the Gujarat High Court is likely to put an end to the controversy, as it will provide conclusive evidence about Modi’s educational qualifications. The judgment will also have implications for other public officials, who will now be required to disclose their educational qualifications in a transparent manner.
The judgment also highlights the importance of transparency in governance, which is essential for ensuring accountability and building public trust. The government must take proactive steps to ensure that information related to public officials is readily available to citizens, and that there are adequate safeguards to protect whistleblowers.
In conclusion, the judgment by the Gujarat High Court is a significant development in the context of transparency and accountability in public life. The right of citizens to access information related to public officials is a fundamental aspect of democracy, and the judgment reaffirms this principle. The government must take proactive steps to ensure that the RTI Act is implemented effectively and that citizens have access to the information they need to hold public officials accountable.
