Gujarat High Court upholds Rs 25,000 fine on Kejriwal in PM degree case

Appeal dismissed in Ahmedabad

The Gujarat High Court has dismissed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s appeal that sought disclosure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree details. The court also upheld the Rs 25,000 fine imposed on him in the matter.

Background to the dispute

In 2016, Kejriwal wrote to the Central Information Commission (CIC) requesting that information related to the Prime Minister’s educational qualifications be made public. After considering the request, the CIC directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to provide the relevant details.

Single-judge order and penalty

Gujarat University challenged the CIC’s direction. In March 2023, a single-judge bench of the Gujarat High Court set aside the CIC order and imposed a Rs 25,000 penalty on Kejriwal, stating that provisions of the Right to Information Act had been misused.

Division bench decision

Kejriwal appealed before a division bench. The bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D.N. Ray said it found no error in the single-judge order after examining all aspects and circumstances, and therefore dismissed the appeal while confirming the fine.