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Informist, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Monday refused to quash the summons issued to Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal by a trial court in Gujarat in a defamation case filed by the registrar of Gujarat University in connection with the controversy regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's academic degrees.

 

A bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice S.V.N. Bhatti noted that a similar plea by another AAP leader had been dismissed by the apex court earlier. "It is seen that complaint filed by respondent 1 (Gujarat University) pertained to not only present petitioner but also Sanjay Singh whose plea was dismissed by this court on Apr. 8, 2024. We must be consistent with that approach," the bench said, and dismissed the plea.

 

In 2016, the Central Information Commission had directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to provide information to Kejriwal regarding Modi's academic degrees. However, in March 2023, the Gujarat High Court set aside the commission's order relating to Gujarat University, saying information about the degree was already available in the public domain on the university's website.

 

The day after the high court order, Kejriwal held a press conference and said the public had got no answer on the issue of Modi's qualifications. He recalled that Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Shah had called a press conference some years ago and shown the degree. "If there is a degree and if it is a genuine one, then why is the degree not being given?" Kejriwal said. "Why are the degrees of Gujarat University and Delhi University not being given? Why is information related to him not being shared?" 

 

The registrar's complaint said the question arising in the public mind was that the degree was not being provided because there was a possibility of it being forged. The statements at the press conference suggested that Kejriwal intended to damage the credit, talent, and name of Gujarat University, and there was reason to believe the reputation of the individual would be tarnished by making such allegations, the registrar said.

 

After Kejriwal's press conference, Sanjay Singh made a statement that since the controversy about the prime minister's degree had arisen, efforts were being made to prove a forged degree as genuine. Thereafter, the registrar filed a defamation case against Kejriwal and Singh. The matter reached the top court after the high court in February refused to quash the summons by the trial court.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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