Delhi High Court Blocks Public Disclosure of PM Modi’s Degree!
Delhi HC protects PM Modi’s degree privacy, overturning CIC order.
In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court on Monday set aside an eight-year-old order by the Central Information Commission (CIC) that had mandated Delhi University (DU) to disclose details of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bachelor of Arts degree from 1978. The court’s decision, which prioritizes the privacy of academic records, exempts DU from sharing the Prime Minister’s degree or the academic records of that year’s BA students, marking a pivotal moment in a nearly decade-long legal battle.
The controversy began in 2016 when an Right to Information (RTI) applicant sought access to the academic records of all students enrolled in DU’s BA program in 1978, the year PM Modi is stated to have graduated, as per his election affidavits. The university rejected the request, citing privacy concerns for third-party information under RTI regulations. However, the CIC, in its 2017 order, ruled that the educational qualifications of a public figure like the Prime Minister should be transparent and classified the university’s register as a public document, directing DU to allow inspection.
DU, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and its legal team, challenged the CIC’s directive in the High Court, arguing that disclosing the records of thousands of students would violate their right to privacy and set a “dangerous precedent” for public authorities. Mehta contended that the RTI applicants were driven by “political motives” or a desire for publicity, and offered that the university was willing to present the records to the court for private review but opposed public disclosure.
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RTI activists countered that transparency laws do not account for the applicant’s intent and maintained that a degree, as a state-granted qualification, is a matter of public interest, particularly for a figure as prominent as the Prime Minister. They argued that withholding such information undermines the principles of accountability and openness enshrined in the RTI Act.
The High Court, after reserving its judgment on February 27, 2025, delivered its verdict on August 25, siding with DU’s privacy concerns. The ruling could face further scrutiny, as the matter is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court. This decision underscores the ongoing tension between individual privacy and public transparency, particularly regarding the qualifications of high-profile public officials, and is expected to spark continued debate on the scope of RTI in India.
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