Delhi High Court suspends order to publicise PM Modi’s degree records

New Delhi: In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has suspended a 2016 order by the Central Information Commission (CIC) that directed the public disclosure and scrutiny of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bachelor’s degree records.

The verdict was delivered by Justice Sachin Datta, who had reserved judgment on February 27, 2025, following a petition filed by Delhi University. The university challenged the CIC’s directive to release Modi’s academic records under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

In his ruling, Justice Datta stated that educational qualifications are not a legal requirement for holding public office or performing official duties. He further noted that details such as degree certificates, marks, grades, and answer sheets fall under the category of personal information, which is exempt from disclosure under Section 8(1) of the RTI Act.

The court found no compelling public interest in disclosing the requested academic details and, as a result, overturned the CIC’s previous directive.

Legal experts view the ruling as a landmark decision in the ongoing debate around transparency, privacy, and accountability of public figures in India.