HC notice to AAP MLA over 'false' educational qualification

The Delhi High Court has issued notice to AAP legislator Surender Singh on a petition filed by BJP leader Karan Singh Tanwar for allegedly giving false information on his educational qualification in the election affidavit.

Justice Hima Kohli sought response from the Delhi Cantonment legislator after Tanwar in his petition said Singh "misrepresented himself to be B.A. in 2012 from Sikkim University... which amounts to corrupt practice within the meaning of the Representation of the People Act".

"It is submitted that if he was serving in NSG (Indian Army) till the year 2011, it is beyond comprehension that he would have graduated or undertaken and completed his alleged B.A. course in the year 2012," the plea said.

Surender Singh became the second Aam Aadmi Party legislator -- after Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar -- to face allegations over educational qualification.

Tanwar said that a reply obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) from Sikkim University said it did not have any record of a student named Surender Singh.

"As per the academic record of the year 2014-15 and all the past academic years, there is no student by the name Surender Singh," said the RTI reply.

Tanwar sought court's directions to declare Singh's election "void and the same be set aside".

"Singh has deprived the voters of Delhi Cantt their valuable right of having full and complete information as to his background and qualification," Tanwar said, seeking direction to summon the record of the election affidavit.