01 May,2016 09:00 AM IST | | Agencies
The Central Information Commission on Saturday directed the Delhi University and the Gujarat University to search and provide information on degrees earned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
New Delhi: The Central Information Commission on Saturday directed the Delhi University and the Gujarat University to search and provide information on degrees earned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had criticised the functioning of the transparency panel on Friday.
Arvind Kejriwal. Pic/PTI
Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu also directed the Prime Minister's Office to provide "specific number and year" of the degrees earned by the Prime Minister to his alma mater, Delhi University and Gujarat University, to make it easy for them to locate these records.
"Not prescribing the education (degree based) qualification for contesting electoral offices is one of the great features of the Indian democracy. What is needed is education, and not a degree. However, when a citizen holding the position of Chief Ministership wants to know the degree-related information of the Prime Minister, it will be proper to disclose," Acharyulu said in the order.
It was an unusual step by the Information Commissioner to treat Kejriwal's letter as an RTI application. "The Commission directs the CPIOs of Delhi University and Gujarat University to make best possible search for the information regarding degrees in the name of 'Mr Narendra Damodar Modi' in the year 1978 (Graduation in DU) and 1983 (Post Graduation in GU) and provide it to the appellant Mr Kejriwal as soon as possible," he said.
