In a significant development, the Supreme Court has declined to grant a stay on the defamation summons issued against AAP Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh. The summons were issued in response to Singh’s remarks questioning the educational degree of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gujarat University had filed a defamation case against Singh, who had challenged the summons.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court had temporarily stayed the proceedings of a trial court on a similar defamation complaint filed by Gujarat University against Singh and Arvind Kejriwal. However, the recent decision allows the case against Singh to proceed.
The bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, issued the order while considering Singh’s plea to transfer the case to a court outside Gujarat, preferably in Kolkata.
Singh’s comments sparked controversy after the Gujarat High Court overturned an order by the Chief Information Commissioner, which had directed Gujarat University to disclose information about PM Modi’s educational degrees under the Right to Information Act.
The high court had earlier rejected Kejriwal and Singh’s plea for an interim stay on the criminal defamation proceedings, stating that their comments were derogatory and sarcastic regarding PM Modi’s educational qualifications.
Singh and Kejriwal had filed a revision application in the sessions court challenging the summonses issued by the metropolitan court. However, their plea for an interim stay on the trial was rejected, leading them to approach the high court.
The Supreme Court has now asked the Gujarat High Court to decide on the matter within four weeks.
