PM rank: RTI’s purpose not to satisfy curiosity, Delhi University tells High Court

Prime Minister Narendra Modi. | Photo credit: PTI

The University of Delhi on Monday (January 13, 2024) argued before the Delhi High Court that the purpose of a plea under the Right to Information (RTI) Act was not to satisfy the curiosity of a third party as it challenged the Central Information Commission’s (CIC) order to release information about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s education.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said student information was held by a university in a “fiduciary capacity” and could not be disclosed “to a stranger” because the law exempted it.

“Section 6 mandates that information must be provided, that is the purpose. But the RTI Act is not meant to satisfy anyone’s curiosity,” said Mr. Mehta.

The RTI Act could not be misused or misused by directing the disclosure of information unrelated to transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities, argued Mr. Mehta.

On the RTI request of an activist, Neeraj, the CIC had on December 21, 2016 allowed inspection of records of all students who had passed the Bachelor of Arts (BA) examination in 1978, the year in which Mr. Modi also passed it.

The plea sought details of students who wrote the exam in 1978. However, the CIC’s order was stayed by the high court on January 23, 2017.

Mr. Calling the CIC’s order contrary to established law, Mehta said “arbitrary and impractical” demands under the RTI Act to disclose “any and all” information would be counterproductive and adversely affect the efficiency of the administration.

“He wants everyone’s information in the year 1978. Someone can come and say 1979; someone (can say) 1964. This university was established in 1922,” said Mr. Mehta.

Earlier, the University of Delhi had challenged the CIC’s order, saying it had “far-reaching adverse consequences” for the petitioner and all universities in the country holding the students’ crores degrees in a fiduciary capacity.

Also read | It is the right of every citizen to know about the Prime Minister’s education, says Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

The CIC, in its order, had asked the University of Delhi to allow inspection, rejecting the argument of its public information officer that it was personal third-party information, noting that there was “neither merit nor legality” in it.

The court hears the case again in January.