Modi degree case: RTI’s purpose not to satisfy curiosity, Delhi University tells High Court

The purpose of the Right to Information Act is not to satisfy third party’s curiosity, the Delhi University told the Delhi High Court on Monday in a matter pertaining to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s academic qualifications, Live Law reported.

The submission was made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on behalf of the university.

The bench of Justice Sachin Datta was hearing a 2017 plea by the Delhi University challenging an order of the Central Information Commission directing it to allow inspection of records of students who had passed the Bachelor of Arts programme in the academic year ending in 1978.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has claimed that Modi was awarded a BA degree from Delhi University that year and a Master of Arts degree from Gujarat University in 1983.

However, critics and the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party have alleged that the degrees are fabricated.

Mehta argued that the commission’s order was contrary to the law. He said that Section 6 of the Right to Information Act mandates that the information has to be provided. However, he said, the Act is “not for satisfying someone’s curiosity”.

The Act cannot be misused by seeking the disclosure of information that was unrelated to accountability and transparency of public authorities, the solicitor general contended.

Mehta said that educational institutions can be asked by individuals to provide…

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