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The Supreme Court of India has upheld the summons issued to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal in a defamation case filed by Gujarat University. The case revolves around comments made by Kejriwal concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's academic qualifications. The court's decision came on Monday, August 7, 2024, and followed a similar ruling in April 2024 dismissing a similar plea by AAP MP Sanjay Singh. The court's rationale for upholding the summons rested on the principle of consistency, citing the previous dismissal of Singh's petition as a precedent.
The controversy surrounding Modi's degrees has been a long-standing political issue, with the BJP claiming that Modi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Delhi University and a Master of Arts degree from Gujarat University. However, the AAP has alleged that these degrees are fabricated. The legal proceedings stem from a 2016 directive by the Central Information Commission asking Gujarat University to provide details of Modi's educational qualifications to Kejriwal. This directive was quashed by the Gujarat High Court in 2023, prompting the university to file a criminal defamation case against Kejriwal and Singh. The university argued that the leaders' statements had harmed its reputation, a claim upheld by the High Court in February 2024.
Kejriwal and Singh, arguing that their statements were not directed at the university, appealed to the Supreme Court to quash the summons. However, the court rejected their appeal, reaffirming its earlier ruling in Singh's case. The Supreme Court's decision is a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over the alleged defamation of Gujarat University. It remains to be seen what course of action Kejriwal and Singh will take in response to the Supreme Court's ruling. The controversy surrounding Modi's academic qualifications has been a point of contention in Indian politics for several years, and this ruling will likely fuel further debate and legal challenges.
The case highlights the complexities of balancing free speech with the protection of reputation. While Kejriwal and Singh have argued that their comments were part of legitimate political discourse, the Supreme Court has ruled that their statements may have crossed the line into defamatory territory. This case raises important questions about the boundaries of permissible criticism in a democracy, particularly when it concerns prominent public figures.
Source: Modi degree case: Supreme Court upholds summons to Arvind Kejriwal in defamation suit