The Delhi High Court on Monday overturned a Central Information Commission (CIC) directive that required Delhi University to disclose details of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s academic records. The ruling ends a long-standing dispute over a 2016 RTI request seeking information on the Prime Minister’s Bachelor of Arts degree.
The case originated from an application filed under the Right to Information Act by Neeraj Kumar, who had sought the list of students who cleared the BA examination in 1978,the year Mr. Modi is said to have graduated in Political Science. While the CIC directed the university to allow inspection of these records, the decision was immediately challenged by Delhi University, which argued that such information was protected under privacy provisions.
During the hearings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the university, maintained that academic records are held in a fiduciary capacity and cannot be disclosed without compelling public interest. He asserted that the RTI Act does not override the fundamental right to privacy and emphasized that disclosure would set an unwarranted precedent.
On the other hand, the petitioner’s counsel argued that educational qualifications of public figures should be open to scrutiny, as they often form part of the public domain through official notifications and election affidavits.
Justice Sachin Datta, while delivering the judgment, set aside the CIC order, effectively holding that the university is not bound to provide access to the requested documents. The detailed reasoning of the court is awaited, but the verdict reinforces the interpretation that privacy and fiduciary obligations outweigh general demands for transparency in academic records.
The decision is expected to have far-reaching implications on similar RTI queries, particularly those involving personal information of individuals holding public office.
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