NEW DELHI (India CSR): The Delhi High Court on Monday set aside a Central Information Commission (CIC) order directing Delhi University (DU) to disclose records relating to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s undergraduate degree.
Justice Sachin Datta, while allowing the university’s plea, ruled that the CIC’s 2016 directive could not be sustained as it infringed upon the right to privacy. The order had earlier permitted inspection of records of all students who cleared the BA examination in 1978, the year in which the Prime Minister is said to have passed out from the university.
The issue arose from an RTI application filed by one Neeraj, following which the CIC directed DU to allow access to the information. However, the High Court had stayed the order in January 2017. The matter was reserved for judgment on February 27 this year and the verdict was pronounced on Monday.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for DU, argued that the CIC order went beyond the scope of the RTI Act and that curiosity alone could not justify disclosure of personal educational records. He submitted that while DU could present documents to the court, disclosure under RTI would amount to unwarranted intrusion into privacy.
On the other hand, counsel for the RTI applicant contended that the Prime Minister’s degree was a matter of larger public interest and should be open to scrutiny under the Right to Information Act.
The court, however, upheld the university’s stance, ruling that academic records of individuals could not be made public merely on the ground of public curiosity.
(India CSR)
