Delhi University told the Delhi High Court that appeals seeking disclosure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degrees were merely attempts to sensationalize the issue. SG Tushar Mehta said “this is only to sensationalize. There is nothing in the matter,”
The Delhi University (DU) informed the Delhi High Court that the appeals requesting the disclosure of information about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degrees are merely an attempt to sensationalize the issue.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing DU, argued that the matter lacks merit.
SG Mehta stated before a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia,
“This is only to sensationalize. There is nothing in the matter,”
The Court was considering a series of appeals brought by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh, Right to Information (RTI) activist Neeraj Sharma, and advocate Mohd Irshad, challenging a previous single-judge ruling from August 25, 2025, which cancelled the Central Information Commission’s (CIC) December 2016 order that required the disclosure of the PM’s degree information.
During the initial hearing on November 12, the High Court noted a delay in the filing of the appeals and requested DU to respond to that issue. On this occasion, SG Mehta requested additional time to submit objections.
Mehta remarked,
“I am seeking time. I would like to file a reply to the delay as well as merits,”
Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing the appellants, suggested that if the Solicitor General intends to address the merits, the Court could issue a notice regarding the appeals.
Mehta countered, stating his appearance in the matter and that issuing a notice would only serve to sensationalize it.
He remarked,
“I am appearing. Notice can’t be issued only to sensationalise something,”
Farasat responded by noting that the delay in filing the appeals was minimal, and the Court could overlook it. The SG disagreed with this assessment.
Ultimately, the Court granted DU an additional three weeks to present its objections concerning the delay in the appeal.
The case is set for its next hearing on April 27.
In 2015, RTI activist Neeraj Sharma had filed an RTI application seeking details of all BA degrees awarded by Delhi University in the year 1978. However, the University refused to provide the information, calling it private and stating that it had “nothing to do with public interest.”
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Unhappy with the denial, Sharma approached the Central Information Commission (CIC) in December 2016.
Information Commissioner Prof. M. Acharyulu then passed an order directing Delhi University to make the register containing the list of students who passed the Bachelor of Arts programme in 1978 public.
Following this order, on January 23, 2017, Delhi University approached the Delhi High Court challenging the CIC’s directive.
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