SC Declines to Entertain Kejriwal’s Plea Against PM Degree Defamation Case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has declined to entertain a plea by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging a high court decision that rejected his request to halt criminal defamation proceedings brought against him by Gujarat University.

The case revolves around Kejriwal’s comments regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualifications. The Gujarat University Registrar, Piyush Patel, had filed a defamation suit against Kejriwal and AAP leader Sanjay Singh after the Gujarat High Court overturned an order by the Chief Information Commissioner to provide information about Modi’s degrees under the RTI Act.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti decided not to issue notice on Kejriwal’s plea, as the matter is already under consideration by the Gujarat High Court, scheduled for a hearing on August 29. The bench advised both Gujarat University and Kejriwal to address their concerns before the high court.

Earlier, the Gujarat High Court had rejected Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh’s plea for an interim stay on the criminal defamation proceedings on August 11. A metropolitan court in Gujarat had previously summoned the two AAP leaders over alleged “sarcastic” and “derogatory” statements concerning PM Modi’s degree. This matter is slated for a hearing on August 31.