Supreme Court Dismisses Arvind Kejriwal’s Plea in Defamation Case
The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a plea by Arvind Kejriwal, challenging a Gujarat High Court order. The order refused to quash summons sent to him in a criminal defamation case filed by Gujarat University. The case is related to comments made by Kejriwal about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree.
Background of the Case
A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti noted that a similar plea by AAP leader Sanjay Singh had been dismissed earlier. The bench emphasized the need for a consistent approach. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Kejriwal, argued that no defamatory statement was made against the University, and seeking information about public figures’ degrees should not lead to defamation.
Details of the Defamation Case
Gujarat University Registrar Piyush Patel filed the defamation case against Kejriwal and Singh. This followed the Gujarat High Court’s decision to set aside an order by the Chief Information Commissioner, which had directed the University to provide information about Modi’s degrees under the RTI Act. The High Court had previously declined to quash the summons issued to Kejriwal.
Legal Proceedings
A Gujarat Metropolitan court had summoned Kejriwal and Singh over their “sarcastic and derogatory” remarks about Modi’s degree. They filed a revision application in the Sessions court, which declined their plea for an interim stay on the trial. Subsequently, they approached the Gujarat High Court, which also refused to quash the summons.
University’s Stand
The University claimed that the comments by AAP leaders were defamatory and damaged its reputation. The Gujarat High Court had earlier quashed a 2016 order by the Central Information Commission, which had directed the University to disclose information about Modi’s degree to Kejriwal.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions on legal matters and ensures that laws are followed correctly.
Arvind Kejriwal -: Arvind Kejriwal is an Indian politician and the Chief Minister of Delhi. He is a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Defamation -: Defamation is when someone says or writes something false about another person or organization that harms their reputation. It’s like spreading a bad rumor that isn’t true.
PM Modi -: PM Modi refers to Narendra Modi, who is the Prime Minister of India. He is the leader of the country and makes important decisions for the nation.
Gujarat University -: Gujarat University is a well-known university in the state of Gujarat, India. It offers various courses and degrees to students.
Gujarat High Court -: The Gujarat High Court is a high court in the state of Gujarat, India. It deals with legal cases and issues in the state.
Sanjay Singh -: Sanjay Singh is a leader in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is a political party in India. He is involved in politics and works with Arvind Kejriwal.
Summons -: A summons is an official notice telling someone to appear in court. It’s like a letter that says you need to come to court for a legal matter.