The Delhi High Court on Wednesday deferred the pronouncement of its verdict on Delhi University’s (DU) plea challenging a Central Information Commission (CIC) order that had directed disclosure of details relating to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bachelor’s degree.
Justice Sachin Datta, who was scheduled to deliver the ruling at 2:30 pm, did not preside over court today. The verdict is now expected on August 25.
The matter originated from an RTI application filed by one Neeraj, following which the CIC on December 21, 2016, allowed inspection of the records of all students who passed the BA examination in 1978 — the year Prime Minister Modi is said to have graduated. DU challenged this order, and the High Court stayed the CIC’s directive on January 23, 2017.
During hearings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for DU, contended that the CIC order should be quashed since the “right to privacy” outweighed the “right to know”. He submitted that while DU was ready to present Modi’s academic records before the court for its perusal, such information could not be opened up for “scrutiny by strangers” under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
DU further argued that it holds student records in a fiduciary capacity and that “mere curiosity,” without a genuine element of public interest, was insufficient grounds for disclosure under the RTI framework.
On the other side, counsel for the RTI applicants defended the CIC’s directive, stressing that in the case of the Prime Minister, disclosure of educational information served a larger public good and was consistent with the objectives of the RTI Act.
The High Court has reserved judgment not only in this petition but also in a set of similar cases seeking disclosure of the Prime Minister’s educational qualifications. The outcome of these petitions is expected to have significant implications on the interplay between the right to privacy and the public’s right to information concerning elected representatives.
The final ruling is now awaited on August 25.
