Delhi High Court Quashes CIC Order to Publicize PM Modi's Graduation Degree. University Not Obligated to Share Private Records. Court Prioritized Right to Privacy and Rejected Basis of Mere Curiosity.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday overturned an order by the Central Information Commission (CIC), stating that Delhi University (DU) will not release details of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's graduation degree to the public. The court clarified that the university is not required to disclose PM Modi's degree.
CIC Order and University's Challenge
In 2016, the Central Information Commission allowed inspection of records of students who passed their BA in 1978. The order stated that Narendra Modi also passed this examination at that time. Delhi University challenged this order, and a stay was granted on the first day of hearing in January 2017.
The university argued that publicizing someone's personal information violates their 'right to privacy.' Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated in court that the protection of private information is more important than public interest and cannot be made public merely for curiosity.
Privacy vs. Public Interest
During the hearing, the university argued that the RTI Act only applies in cases of genuine public interest. Publicizing private information merely to satisfy someone's curiosity is not justified. The university assured the court that if the court orders, it is ready to present PM Modi's degree record, but it will not be made available to the general public.
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for RTI applicant Neeraj Sharma, argued that the disclosure of the Prime Minister's educational records should be in the broader public interest. He said that generally, universities publish such records publicly, whether on notice boards or on websites and in newspapers.
Court's Decision
Justice Sachin Datta accepted the university's appeal and quashed the CIC's order. The court stated that in matters of private information, the 'right to privacy' is primary and it cannot be exposed merely for public curiosity.
Political Controversy and Degree Validity
Prime Minister Modi's educational qualifications have been part of political controversy. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and other opposition parties have questioned the authenticity of his degrees. However, the BJP presented copies of the degrees, and universities publicly confirmed their validity. Despite this, the legal dispute continued.
University Policy
Delhi University told the court that it protects students' information under ethical and legal obligations. The university says that the justification for publicizing someone's personal information under the RTI Act only arises when it is in genuine public interest.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, "Providing information is mandatory under Section 6, but it does not mean that someone's private information should be shared merely for curiosity."
