Supreme Court Rejects Arvind Kejriwal’s Plea Against Defamation Case by Gujarat University
The Supreme Court has declined to entertain the plea put forth by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, challenging a high court verdict that denied his request to halt the criminal defamation proceedings initiated by Gujarat University.
The university had lodged a defamation lawsuit against Kejriwal and AAP leader Sanjay Singh over alleged remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualifications. The Gujarat High Court had invalidated an order from the Chief Information Commissioner to disclose information about Modi’s degrees under the RTI Act. The Supreme Court bench has ruled out issuing a notice as the matter is already under consideration by the Gujarat High Court.
Also go through : Supreme Court rejects Kejriwal’s plea in PM Modi degree defamation case by Gujrat University
The dispute stems from a defamation suit filed by Gujarat University Registrar Piyush Patel against Kejriwal and Singh for their purported comments about Modi’s degrees following the Gujarat High Court’s decision on disclosing degree information via the RTI Act. The case is scheduled for a hearing on August 29 before the Gujarat High Court. The bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti suggested that both Gujarat University and Kejriwal address their concerns in the high court. Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi contended that the high court had erred in not granting an interim stay on the defamation proceedings against Kejriwal.
Image Credit: Hindustan Times
Earlier, the Gujarat High Court had dismissed Kejriwal and Singh’s request for an interim stay on the criminal defamation proceedings. A metropolitan court in Gujarat had summoned both leaders over their comments regarding PM Modi’s degree. Although the sessions court rejected their plea for an interim stay, they subsequently approached the Gujarat High Court. The apex court’s decision followed the Gujarat High Court’s refusal to grant an interim stay in response to Kejriwal and Singh’s plea.
The case is scheduled for a hearing on August 31. Among those involved, only Kejriwal has challenged the August 11 high court order in the Supreme Court. Patel’s complaint asserted that their comments were defamatory and had harmed the university’s reputation.
The case originated from Kejriwal and Singh’s alleged “sarcastic” and “derogatory” statements about PM Modi’s degree during press conferences and on social media. The complaint alleged that these remarks were directed at Gujarat University and were intentionally intended to tarnish its reputation. The Gujarat High Court had earlier invalidated a 2016 Central Information Commission order, suggesting that Kejriwal’s RTI application appeared to be politically motivated rather than rooted in public interest. This case adds another layer to the ongoing legal matters surrounding Kejriwal’s remarks on PM Modi’s degree.
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