The Delhi High Court on Wednesday scheduled to pronounce its verdict on Delhi University’s challenge to a 2016 Central Information Commission order directing disclosure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bachelor’s degree details.
However, the pronouncement has been deferred, as the concerned judge did not hold court today.
According to court staff, the judgment is now likely to be delivered next week.
Case Background
The controversy dates back to an RTI application filed by one Neeraj, seeking records of all students who graduated with a BA in 1978—the year PM Modi completed his undergraduate degree. Acting on the request, the CIC on December 21, 2016, allowed inspection of DU’s records.
DU immediately challenged the order, and on January 23, 2017, the High Court stayed the CIC’s directive. Since then, the matter has been pending.
Arguments Before Court
After several rounds of hearings, Justice Sachin Datta reserved judgment earlier this year.
Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the CIC’s order must be quashed. While acknowledging that records may be produced before the court if required, he stressed they should not be released in the public domain to cater to individuals “seeking publicity or driven by political motives.”
Mehta further warned that an expansive interpretation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act could burden public authorities and affect their functioning.
DU’s Stand
Delhi University has consistently maintained that student records are held in a fiduciary capacity, meaning they involve a relationship of trust between the institution and its students. DU contends that mere curiosity, without a demonstrated element of public interest, cannot justify disclosure under the RTI Act.
In its 2016 order, however, the CIC had taken the view that since universities are public institutions, their degree records qualify as public documents maintained in official registers. The commission held that such records should, therefore, be open to inspection.
With the verdict deferred, the final word on whether the Prime Minister’s degree records can be disclosed under RTI will now depend on the judgment expected next week. The outcome could have significant implications for the balance between transparency under RTI and the privacy rights of individuals.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
