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PM Modi degree row: Supreme Court dismisses AAP MP Sanjay Singh’s plea against summons in Gujarat University’s defamation case

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh’s plea against summons issued to him in a defamation case over remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s academic degree.

The bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta said that the High Court has already observed that all contentions available to the parties are kept open. It added that the learned Trial Judge would not be influenced by any of the observations made in the impugned order.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh was represented by Senior Advocates Rebecca John and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who argued that the complaint ought to have been filed by the Public Prosecutor, as there was a finding that Gujarat University was a ‘State’ under Article 12. The counsels also pressed that the University had in no manner been defamed by Singh. Nonetheless, the apex court was not convinced to interfere and observed that all the contentions were a matter of defense during the trial.

A defamation case was lodged by the Gujarat University against Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh in connection with the remarks made by them against PM Narendra Modi’s academic degree. The complaint, filed through Piyush M Patel, the University’s registrar, accused the leaders of making sarcastic and defamatory statements in press conferences and on Twitter handles targeting the university over the Prime Minister’s degree.

Earlier on April 15, 2023, Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh were issued summons to appear by a Magistrate Court in Ahmedabad. The AAP leaders moved the Sessions Court against the summoning order and prayed for stay of the trial pending disposal of their revision plea. However, the plea for stay was declined.

The Sessions Court in September 2023 dismissed the revision application lodged by Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh. Consecutively, the leaders approached the Gujarat High Court against the summons as well as the Sessions Court order affirming the summons.

Later in October, 2023, the High Court issued notice to the other side but declined to stay the trial. Arvind Kejriwal approached the Supreme Court against this order, but his plea was rejected on the basis that the High Court was seized of the matter.

When Sanjay Singh approached the Supreme Court seeking transfer of trial outside Gujarat, the prayer was denied. Nonetheless, trial proceedings in Singh’s respect were stayed till the plea for interim relief was decided by the Gujarat High Court.

The Gujarat High Court in February, vide the impugned order, dismissed the pleas filed by Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh against the Sessions Court order affirming the summons. The present proceedings were initiated against the High Court’s decision.

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