Latest
DU Beat – Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper
Tag

degree

Browsing
Features

Delhi High Court flags Delay in Appeals over PM Modi’s Degree Disclosure 

By

Delhi High Court questions delays in appeals challenging the order on disclosing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Delhi University degree details, directing the university to respond within three weeks. It has listed the matter for hearing on January 16, 2026.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed Delhi University to submit its reply within three weeks to the applications explaining the delay in filing the appeals. The matter has been listed for the next hearing on January 16, 2026.

The appeals were filed by Right to Information (RTI) activist Neeraj, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh, and advocate Mohd Irshad. They challenged the August 25 order of a single judge, which had quashed a Central Information Commission (CIC) directive that required Delhi University to disclose details of Mr. Modi’s 1978 Bachelor of Arts degree.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the petitioners’ counsel argued that the single judge’s order contained fundamental errors and required judicial reconsideration. However, the Bench noted the delay in filing the appeals and emphasized that the issue of condonation of delay must be addressed before proceeding with the case.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Delhi University, was asked by the court to file objections to the applications seeking condonation of delay. “We need to condone the delay first. File your objections,” the Bench directed.

The controversy stems from a 2016 RTI application filed by activist Neeraj, seeking inspection of records of students who completed their B.A. degree in 1978—the year Prime Minister Modi is said to have graduated. The CIC had, on December 21, 2016, allowed the inspection of these records. However, the decision was later challenged by Delhi University.

On August 25, the single judge had ruled that merely holding public office did not make all aspects of an individual’s personal information subject to public disclosure. The order emphasized the right to privacy, stating that such information could not be demanded simply because the person occupied a high position.

The issue continues to attract public and political attention, as it sits at the intersection of transparency and privacy—testing the limits of the Right to Information Act in relation to public figures. The court’s next hearing in January 2026 is expected to determine whether the petitioners’ appeals will proceed on merit.

Read Also: Delay in Examination Form filling: students report Missing Enrolment Numbers and Subject-Selection Glitches

FeaturedImageSource:  The Tribune

Richa Choudhary

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

Ramanujan College Signs MOU with Austrian Institute

By

Ramanujan College, one of the constituent colleges of Delhi University signs deal with Management Centre Innsbruck (MCI) to promote knowledge.

On the 26th of November 2019, Ramanujan College announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Management Centre Innsbruck. MCI is an ‘entrepreneurial school’ based out of Innsbruck in the western state of Tyrol, in Austria. The institute provides bachelor’s and master’s programmes, along with an executive MBA, an executive Ph.D. course, and certificate courses.

The deal signed between the two institutes ensures the sharing of expertise between the two institutes along with student exchange programmes. The Student exchange programme agreed between the two institutes dictates that two students will be exchanged every academic year. Each institute will waive the tuition fees for the students coming from the other institute. Undergraduate and graduate students who have completed three semesters or two semesters, respectively, will be eligible for the student exchange programme.

The agreement also guarantees that both institutes will work towards conducting an exchange of academic staff, joint development, and organisation of academic programmes, courses or seminars and research between MCI and Ramanujan. Students of Ramanujan will also get an opportunity to pursue their master’s degree from MCI after completing their Bachelor in Ramanujan.

At present, Ramanujan College has 15 departments, 15 centers, 25 societies and more than 3000 students enrolled in various courses. The MCI is a premier entrepreneurial school with 3407 students, 210 internal and 997 external faculty members offering 25 study programmes leading to bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as 7 executive master’s degrees and 16 certificate programmes. Both institutes hope that the MOU signed between them will help in sharing knowledge, experience, and goals and is expected to boost learning outcomes in the form of employability and research.

 

Feature Image Credits: Careers360

 

Prabhanu Kumar Das

[email protected] 

 

 

Keep Reading
By
DUB Speak

The Right Time to Study Abroad

By

At some point in time, a fair amount of people have found themselves debating the idea of an education abroad. The question can plague those with a desire for a life, or simply an education abroad, for years at end. So, what really is the best time to receive an education in a foreign country?


School
Unlike our western counterparts, school is given a great deal of importance in India, so much so that dropping out for any  reason whatsoever is not an option. Some people may believe that an early introduction to the foreign culture is the best option for easy assimilation into the target society. Unless born into a particular country, receiving a primary education in a foreign country is not the best idea. Primary and middle school education is best received from any good school in the vicinity. High school is a better option to consider for foreign education, as this is a crucial time in terms of scores, competitive exams and college applications. If the end goal is getting into a college in a foreign country, completing one’s final two years of school from the said nation is a viable option.

Bachelors
Considered as the best time to go abroad, a Bachelor’s degree from a foreign university can have a heavy weightage on your CV. Scholarships are the best option in terms of funding an education abroad, taking into account the current value of the rupee. Part-time jobs are another option to aid your stay during college. One of the reasons why this is considered a good time to go abroad is the belief that age is synonymous with maturity. Majority of students reach the age of 18, an age considered appropriate to fly the nest. However, funding (in the absence of scholarships) is a major factor to take into consideration while applying. Being mentally prepared to take up a part-time job, alongside studies, and the task of assimilation into a foreign culture and society, must not be ignored.

Masters
The other end of the spectrum consists of people who are certain that masters is the best time, and option, among degrees to go overseas. Working for a couple of years helps individuals attain a certain practical knowledge about an industry,  that comes only through professional environments like workplaces. Interacting with people of all ages and differing qualifications helps build an in-depth understanding of the working of a particular field. Being Equipped with sufficient practical knowledge as well as academic knowledge helps make a masters course in a foreign country fruitful in terms of honing one’s existing skills, as well as gaining and understanding new information.
Going overseas immediately after a bachelor’s degree is often not preferred owing to a lack of work experience. Unless an individual has indulged in any form of work or practical internship, one may find themselves lagging behind in comparison to the rest of the class, the majority of which is made up of people with at least a couple of years of work experience.  

Experiences vary, and what holds true for one person may not for others. Doing adequate research into required exams,  funding, courses, and colleges is imperative and must not be compromised in any case.
For more information about education abroad, websites like those of the British council, StudyAbroad, and ISEP can be referred to.

 

Feature Image Credits: The PIE News

 

Meher Gill

[email protected]

 

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

High Court Hearing of the Narendra Modi Degree Case: Date Rescheduled to February 28

By

The Court was left frustrated as the University could not file a rejoinder in seven months, citing the ‘lack of time’.

In keeping with the Prime Minister’s efforts to keep himself in the news, the degree controversy refuses to die down, but this one not quite to the liking of the Premier. This Thursday, when the matter came up for hearing at the Delhi High Court, after a gap of nearly seven months when the case was filed, the University came up with newer records in its lethargy in legal proceedings. According to the news report by The Wire which surfaced last night, the University, which in April 2017 was asked to file a rejoinder to a reply by the petitioner Neeraj within four weeks, first tried to get another extension by claiming that the no objection certificate for adjournment had been signed by the petitioner’s lawyer. It then pleaded that it could not find time to file a rejoinder.

The University of Delhi lawyer pleaded before the court for the case to be adjourned since the senior advocate Tushar Mehta, who was leading the case, was not present. Upon being asked why despite being provided with four weeks to file the rejoinder seven months ago it had not been filed yet, the University lawyer began pleading for additional time. The developments left Justice Vibhu Bakhru visibly perturbed and after the court assembled at 10:30 am, he kept insisting that the DU lawyer move ahead with the hearing. The court heard the matter twice after that, first at 12:30 pm and then at 2:30 pm, but each time in the absence of its senior counsel. Finally at 2:30 pm, Justice Bakhru said that he was barring DU from filing a rejoinder in the matter and listed the next hearing for February 28.

In May last year, Union Minister Arun Jaitley and had made public both the Gujarat University and DU documents. Both the Universities had validated the authenticity of the documents. What is unexplainable, however, is the way University, which ideally should have nothing to hide, has since then blocked any further attempts for further information on the subject, now attempting to adjourn the court case.

With inputs from The Wire

Feature Image Credits: PTI

Nikhil Kumar
[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
DUB News

With DU yet to find records, Smriti Irani’s degree remains a mystery

By

After carrying out relentless searches, Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani’s bachelor’s degree seems to have consigned to oblivion by the University of Delhi. Failing to furnish documentary evidence of Irani’s educational qualifications, the Assistant Registrar of School of Open Learning (SOL), DU, Mr. O.P. Tanwar was quoted as saying, “1996 documents related to her BA are yet to be found,” as he addressed the court.

The varsity’s move came in response to the court’s earlier order for summoning the minister’s documents from its School of Open Learning department on the allegation of a discrepancy in the affidavits she filed in 2004 and 2011. While her 2004 affidavit claims that she completed her BA in 1996, another affidavit by her for the 2011 Rajya Sabha poll from Gujarat mentions her highest qualification as B.Com (Part I) from DU.

The case, which came into limelight following a complaint by Ahmer Khan, a freelance writer, Smriti Irani’s educational status has been in question ever since. The complainant had alleged that the HRD minister had deliberately produced false affidavits and thus is liable for punishment under relevant sections of IPC (Indian Penal Code) and under section 125A of Representation of the People Act (RPA). Section 125A of RPA deals with penalty for filing false affidavit and entails a jail term of upto six months or fine or both.

The Assistant Registrar also informed the court that Irani’s Class 12 documents, submitted along with the admission form of B.Com (H) course, were yet to be found. He was however quick to add that “verification must have been done before the admission”, as he was quoted by a national daily.

However, it seems like faking one’s educational degree is the new fad that’s become increasingly popular with our politicians and PM Narendra Modi has become the recent victim of this trend.

Talking about the issue, Teacher Representative of Executive Council, University of Delhi, Ms. Abha Dev Habib told us, “Whether it is the degree of the HRD Minister or the PM, it will be unfortunate if they make claims of having a degree they don’t hold in the first place. And it is strange that the university doesn’t have records. There is definitely pressure but this is nothing less than a blatant excuse. To me, degree doesn’t matter, but the ministers are the role models for the general public and information must be furnished by the varsity on the same.”

Commenting on the current state of the Ministry of Education’s working, she added, “I am not disappointed that she doesn’t have a degree, what I am disappointed with is the continuos interference of the ministry in the education system. The hasty implementation of CBCS system in less than 7 months is the biggest case in point. It is all about rational thinking and a scientific temperament to be able to take decisions, degree doesn’t matter here.” Also talking about the recent controversy surrounding the degree of PM Modi, she further connoted, ” The PM wants to talk to the nation on Mann Ki Baat but what perturbs me is his silence on issues of importance. Whatever the degree may be, it should be truthfully embraced.”

The court also asked SDM of north Delhi to bring documents filed by Irani with the affidavit for contesting 2004 polls from Chandni Chowk constituency here and fixed the matter for further hearing on June 6. The pivotal question here however remains whether power gives an easy escape route to politicians to distort their educational qualifications.

We previously did a report on the suspension of 5 officials of School of Open Learning for leaking documents related to the HRD Minister. You may take a look at the report here. 

Image credits: timesofindia.indiatimes.com 

Riya Chhibber

[email protected] 

 

 

Keep Reading
By