A Delhi sessions court on Tuesday rejected the request of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who had requested that the criminal defamation case involving their comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modis degree be heard by the court in an expedited manner. A V Hirpara, the court of sessions judge, denied the AAP leaders request for a speedy trial in the lawsuit Gujarat University brought against them. Their appeal for temporary relief was denied by the Gujarat High Court on August 11, but the court did issue a notice regarding their desire for a prompt hearing, which is when they made this request. The Gujarat University defamation case will go on trial before the metropolitan court beginning on August 31st, while the Sessions Court has set the hearing for the revision motion for September. Kejriwal has also approached the Supreme Court against the order of rejection of stay by Gujarat High Court and the matter is tentatively fixed on August 25 for hearing before the apex court. In response to the Gujarat High Courts decision in March of this year to overturn the Chief Information Commissioners order for the institution to disclose information regarding Modis degree, a defamation lawsuit was brought over Kejriwal and Singhs remarks. In response to Kejriwals request for the information, the high court fined him ₹25,000.
