Court rules PM’s educational records cannot be compelled under RTI

New Delhi, August 28, 2025 – The Delhi High Court has quashed a Central Information Commission (CIC) order directing the disclosure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Delhi University degree under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The court held that the Prime Minister’s educational records are personal information and cannot be compelled to be disclosed unless a larger public interest is proven. This ruling brings closure to a long-running debate over the validity of the Prime Minister’s academic qualifications, which has frequently been raised by political opponents.

The court emphasized that the Right to Information Act protects personal information of individuals, including public officials, unless such information is directly connected to issues of public duty or public interest. By overturning the CIC’s order, the bench underlined that the disclosure of academic records without a compelling justification would amount to an invasion of privacy.

Legal experts noted that the case gained prominence after repeated RTI requests were filed to access the Prime Minister’s degree certificates. While the CIC had earlier directed Delhi University to release the documents, the High Court clarified that educational qualifications fall within the ambit of personal records protected under Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act. The court added that the exemption could only be lifted if a petitioner could demonstrate overriding public interest, which was not established in this case.

The Delhi University had previously affirmed that the Prime Minister had completed his degree, but requests for certified copies of his academic documents continued to emerge. Political debates intensified as opposition parties used the issue as a tool of criticism, while the government maintained that the Prime Minister’s credentials were authentic and beyond dispute.

The High Court’s decision is likely to put an end to the repeated use of the RTI route for seeking access to the Prime Minister’s educational records. It also reinforces judicial interpretation of privacy rights in relation to the RTI Act, balancing transparency with personal dignity.

Advocates stressed that this ruling will have broader implications for RTI applications involving personal information of public officials. By affirming that disclosure cannot be compelled without a demonstrable public interest, the court has set a precedent that may shield other personal records of public servants from routine disclosure.

The judgment is expected to reduce politically motivated litigation and streamline the application of the RTI Act. With this ruling, the judiciary has once again highlighted the importance of balancing citizens’ right to information with individuals’ right to privacy.

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