Delhi High Court asks for all records related to Smriti Irani’s educational qualifications
The petitioner alleged that the Union minister had lied about her degrees in separate election affidavits.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought records of the case pertaining to Union Minister Smriti Irani’s degrees, reported ANI. The court was hearing a petition filed by one Ahmed Khan who alleged that different affidavits submitted in a trial court had stated contradictory information.
Khan had earlier filed a similar petition in the trial court, which was rejected. The court had said that the university had lost its primary records. The trial court had also added that Khan was trying to “harass” the minister. Khan had then challenged the trial court’s ruling.
The High Court will take up the case next on September 13. It will decide then whether to summon Irani after examining the records, according to NDTV.
In his petition, Khan alleged that in 2004, Irani had said she had a 1996 Bachelor of Arts degree from Delhi University, while in later elections she said her highest educational qualification was Bachelor of Commerce Part One (correspondence course) from Delhi University. However, the Election Commission as well as the Delhi University have said that Irani’s degree cannot be found.
Irani’s educational records have been under the scanner for a while. On October 18 last year, Delhi’s Patiala House Court had dismissed a petition calling for Irani to be summoned in connection with a case connected with her educational qualifications.