In a decision unveiled on Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea of AAP MP Sanjay Singh contesting the summonses issued by the trial court in a defamation lawsuit brought forth by Gujarat University concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scholastic credentials.
Advocate-at-law Rebecca John, representing Singh, presented before a bench headed by Justice BR Gavai and comprising Justice Sandeep Mehta, asserting that her client had not engaged in defamatory conduct towards Gujarat University. She emphasized that the university was not even explicitly mentioned or challenged, raising queries about its purported impact.
John stated that her client never posted any video on X, previously recognized as Twitter, and explicitly denied any accusations of degree falsification against Gujarat University. She underscored that it was the university’s responsibility to verify with Twitter if any such video had been disseminated.
The bench verbally remarked and informed the counsel that only a prima facie case was necessary at the complaint stage and assured them that they would have an opportunity to present their case, urging them to peruse the complaint. The counsel reiterated, questioning where the defamation against the university lay. Following the submissions, the bench declined to entertain the petition.
Singh approached the apex court seeking to annul the summonses issued to him in the case by an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. Previously, the Gujarat High Court had declined to provide Singh with any relief regarding the matter.
The Gujarat High Court had declared in March of the prior year that the Prime Minister’s Office was not obligated to furnish the Prime Minister’s degree certificates under the Right to Information Act (RTI Act). Subsequently, Gujarat University lodged a complaint accusing the two politicians, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Singh, of defamation.
