High Court defers verdict on DU's plea against disclosure of PM Modi's degree records

The Delhi Court was supposed to pronounce its verdict on Delhi University's plea challenging a CIC order directing disclosure of information with respect to the bachelor's degree of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.

However, the pronouncement has been deferred as the concerned judge did not hold court today. According to court staff, the order may now be pronounced next week.

Justice Sachin Datta, who reserved the judgement on February 27, was supposed to pronounce the verdict in the said case. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for DU, earlier argued that the CIC order deserved to be set aside. He also said that the university had no objection to show its record to the court, but they should not be placed in the public domain to serve the interests of individuals "seeking publicity or driven by political motives."


Mehta cautioned that an expansive interpretation of the RTI Act could hinder the functioning of public authorities.

On December 21 2016, Central Information Commission (CIC) allowed the inspection of records of all students who cleared the BA exam in 1978, the same year that Modi passed the exam. The matter was initiated by a 2016 RTI application.

Delhi High court stayed the CIC order on January 23, 2017.

DU challenged the CIC order on the ground that it held the information of students in a fiduciary capacity and "mere curiosity" in the absence of public interest did not entitle anyone to seek private information under the RTI law.

Earlier, the counsel for the RTI applicants had defended the CIC's order on the ground that RTI Act provided for disclosure of the prime minister's educational information in greater public good.