Gujarat High Court rejects review plea by Arvind Kejriwal against non-disclosure of PM Modi's degree

The Gujarat High Court Thursday rejected a plea by Arvind Kejriwal questioning the correctness of the Court's March 31 judgment, in which it had held that the Gujarat University need not furnish information about the academic degree of Prime Minister Narendra Modi [Arvind Kejriwal vs Gujarat University]..Justice Biren Vaishnav pronounced the verdict on a review plea by Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal today. A detailed copy of the order is yet to be made available..Kejriwal filed the review plea after the High Court earlier set aside an order by the Chief Information Commission (CIC) which had directed that details of Prime Minister Modi's degree be furnished.The CIC order was passed on an application by Kejriwal under the Right to Information Act (RTI Act)..After the CIC ordered the Gujarat University to disclose these details, the varsity filed an appeal before the Gujarat High Court to challenge the CIC decision.The High Court allowed the appeal and also imposed costs of ₹25,000 on Kejriwal for making a mockery of the RTI Act.Kejriwal subsequently filed an application seeking a review of this judgment..Senior Advocate Percy Kavina, appearing for Kejriwal, told the Court that it had erred in making certain observations, especially those stating that his client's conduct was reprehensive."We haven't in any manner invited the wrath of this Court for it to impose costs on us. We have in fact sought for expeditious disposal of the proceedings and never prolonged the litigation here," Kavina had submitted.Kavina also questioned the correctness of the Court's finding that disclosing the PM's degree has nothing to do with the 'larger public interest.'"This finding is based on no fact. Our conduct isn't of such a manner that would justify this Court's observations. A word that falls from a superior court makes a tremendous effect. The observations in my respectful submissions are unwarranted," the senior lawyer had argued..Kavina also challenged the Gujarat University's submission that the degree was made available on its official website."The assertion (of the university) that a degree is available on the website of the varsity is incorrect. It is certainly not a degree which is available on the internet.".Opposing these arguments, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, who appeared for Gujarat University, said that the review plea was only an attempt to keep the controversy alive for no reason. "It might suit the review applicant (Kejriwal) to keep the pot boiling but not for us. This is just a childish prayer by Kejriwal," Mehta had argued..Mehta also defended the Court's earlier findings and said that Kejriwal was 'guilty' of abusing the salutary provisions of the RTI Act."The degree has no relation with the public office which the Prime Minister holds. However, the order of the CIC for disclosing the same was made a subject matter of a political storm for no reason and to bring down the public discourse at its lowest level," the SG had argued.