[Draft][PM Modi Degree] Gujarat HC Adjourns Hearing in Arvind Kejriwal's Review Petition till September 15

The Gujarat High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing in a review petition moved by Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi, till September 15, 2023.

Kejriwal has filed the review petition against the high court's March 31, 2023 decision, wherein it overturned an order of the Chief Information Commission (CIC) that had directed the furnishing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational degree certificates.

On March 31, 2023, a bench of Justice Biren Vaishnav had set aside the order of the CIC which had directed the public information officers (PIOs) of the PMO, Gujarat University, and Delhi University to provide details of Modi's graduate and postgraduate degrees.

The order was passed in an appeal filed by the Gujarat University challenging the CIC’s order of 2016.

CIC had ordered Gujarat University to supply Modi’s MA degree obtained in 1983 and had also directed it to furnish his BA degree taken in 1978.

While setting aside the CIC’s 2016 order, the single-judge bench had imposed costs of Rs. 25,000 on CM Arvind Kejriwal, for seeking details of the certificate of the PM’s degree through the RTI route.

While imposing cost on Arvind Kejriwal, the single judge bench had said, "Despite the degree in question being put on the website of the petitioner University for all to see...despite the respondent never ever disputing the degree in question during hearings, he persisted with the matter. This is one more reason to impose costs while allowing this petition."

Further, regarding the CIC's decision, the single judge bench had said, "This Court fails to comprehend the justification or the legal foundation on the basis of which the Commission has arrived at the said finding".

Case Title: Gujarat University v. M. Sridhar Acharyulu (Madabhushi Sridhar)