Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has once again dismissed a petition challenging the educational qualifications of Deputy Chief Minister, Keshav Prasad Maurya. The petition, filed by former BJP leader and RTI activist Diwakar Nath Tripathi, alleged that Maurya used a fraudulent degree to contest five different elections and also obtained a petrol pump from Indian Oil Corporation in Kaushambi based on the same. The petitioner sought an FIR against Maurya.
This marks the second dismissal of Tripathi's plea by the High Court. Two years prior, the court had rejected a similar petition, deeming it "baseless" and its allegations lacking merit. Tripathi then approached the Supreme Court, which overturned the High Court's decision and directed him to refile the petition at the High Court.
Following the Supreme Court's directive, Tripathi filed a review petition in the High Court, which was accepted on April 24, 2025. Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh's single bench heard arguments from both sides before reserving its judgment on May 23, 2025.
Today, July 7, the review petition was dismissed. Tripathi's core claim is that Maurya provided inconsistent and potentially false information regarding his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in various election affidavits.
He highlights discrepancies in the year of graduation and the nature of the degree itself, arguing that Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, from which Maurya claimed to have obtained his BA, does not grant such a degree. Tripathi asserts that despite complaining to various authorities, no action was taken, forcing him to pursue legal recourse.
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