The Gujarat High Court has made a decision regarding the pleas of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh in a defamation case linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualifications. The court dismissed their pleas, refusing to quash the summons issued against them by a trial court. This move comes after Gujarat University filed a defamation case against the two AAP leaders over comments made about PM Modi’s degree.
Kejriwal, who serves as the Chief Minister of Delhi, and Singh, AAP’s Rajya Sabha member, had challenged the summons issued by the trial court and subsequent rulings rejecting their revision applications. However, Justice Hasmukh Suthar directed them to present their arguments before the trial court, declining to intervene in the matter at this stage.
The defamation case stems from statements made by Kejriwal and Singh, which Gujarat University deemed “sarcastic” and “derogatory” regarding PM Modi’s educational qualifications. The metropolitan court had summoned the AAP leaders last year, prompting them to file revision applications in the sessions court, which also upheld the summons.
Despite their attempts to challenge the summons at various levels, including the Gujarat High Court and the Supreme Court, the pleas of Kejriwal and Singh were not entertained. The HC, while rejecting their plea for an interim stay, directed the sessions court to expedite the hearing, assigning the matter to a new bench.
The genesis of the defamation case lies in the Central Information Commission’s (CIC) order concerning PM Modi’s educational qualifications. Following a directive from the CIC to provide information on Modi’s degrees, Gujarat University approached the HC, which stayed the order. Subsequently, the GU registrar filed a defamation case against Kejriwal and Singh, alleging their comments tarnished the university’s reputation.
In March last year, the HC set aside the CIC order, leading to the filing of the defamation case against the AAP leaders. The court imposed a fine of ₹25,000 on Kejriwal while refusing to stay the order. GU asserted that the remarks made by Kejriwal and Singh, deliberately targeting the university, were defamatory and harmed its prestige.
The ongoing legal battle underscores the contentious issue surrounding PM Modi’s educational qualifications, with political leaders and institutions becoming embroiled in a complex legal tussle. As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how the courts will adjudicate on the matter, balancing freedom of expression with allegations of defamation and reputational damage.
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