The Gujarat High Court on Friday dismissed pleas lodged by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leader Sanjay Singh challenging a Sessions Court order affirming summons issued against them by a Magistrate Court in a defamation case filed by Gujarat University concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s education Degree.
Justice Hasmukh D Suthar dismissed the plea by Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh challenging the summons issued by an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. The defamation complaint against the Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader alleged that the two politicians made defamatory statements against the Gujarat University in relation to the controversy over PM Modi’s academic degree.
The summons were issued to the AAP leaders in April last year by an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. The trial court in its prima facie view observed that the statements made about Gujarat University can be interpreted by a prudent person to mean that the university awards false and bogus degrees and is involved in fake activities and thereby tarnishes the image of Gujarat University.
Later, a Sessions Court later upheld the summons, leading to the petitions before the High Court. In the Gujarat High Court, the AAP leaders contended that the complaint was not maintainable at all since the statements were not against the varsity. Nonetheless, the university submitted that Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh by their statements had tarnished its image and must be made to face the trial.
The matter has its origins in Gujarat High Court’s March 2023 judgment that held that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) need not furnish Modi’s degree certificates under the Right to Information Act (RTI Act).
Justice Biren Vaishnav had earlier reserved the order of the Chief Information Commission (CIC) directing the public information officer (PIO) of PMO and the PIOs of Gujarat University and Delhi University to furnish details of Modi’s graduate and post-graduate degrees.
Reportedly, the High Court had imposed costs of ₹25,000 on Arvind Kejriwal as well.