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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Jitender Singh Tomar
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| constituency = [[Tri Nagar (Delhi Assembly constituency)|Tri Nagar]]
| office = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]], [[Sixth Legislative Assembly of Delhi]]
| term_start = 14 February 2015
| term_end = 11 February 2020
| predecessor = [[Nand Kishore Garg]]
| successor = [[Preeti Tomar]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1966|04|12}}
| birth_place = Fatehpur (V), [[Etah district]], U.P.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| birthname =
| parents =
| nationality = Indian
| party = [[Aam Aadmi Party]]
| otherparty = [[Indian National Congress]]
| spouse =
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| relations =
| children = 1 son 1 daughter
| residence = New Delhi
| alma_mater =
| occupation =
| profession = Politician
| cabinet =
| committees =
| portfolio =
| religion =
| signature =
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| website =
| footnotes =
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}}
'''Jitender Singh Tomar''' is an Indian politician and former cabinet minister of Home, law and justice in the Government of NCT of Delhi headed by former Chief Minister [[Arvind Kejriwal]] from which he was resigned after a Fake Degree case against him. He is a member of the [[Aam Aadmi Party]] (AAP) and represented [[Tri Nagar (Delhi Assembly constituency)|Tri Nagar]] in the [[Sixth Legislative Assembly of Delhi]].

In 2020, day before he was about to file his nomination from TriNagar for 2020 Delhi Assembly Elections, High Court gave a ruling against him where he was found guilty of Fake Degree<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/BIH-PAT-HMU-former-delhi-minister-jitendra-singh-tomar-fake-degree-case-news-hindi-5483240-PHO.html|title= फर्जी डिग्री केस : यहां पहुंची दिल्ली पुलिस, 19 अफसरों, कर्मचारियों पर चार्जशीट|website= Dainik Bhaskar|language=hi |access-date=2016-05-07}}</ref> in his 2015 nomination. As a result his election was canceled and he instead made his wife contest on behalf of him.

<br />

==Early life and education==
Jitender Singh Tomar was born in the village of Fatehpur, [[Etah district]], Uttar Pradesh, on 12 April 1966.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/DoIT/delhi+govt/ministers/jitender_singh_toma |publisher=Government of Delhi |title=Shri Jitender Singh Tomar |accessdate=11 June 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418084825/http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/DoIT/delhi%2Bgovt/ministers/jitender_singh_toma |archivedate=18 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At the time of filing his 2015 election affidavit, Tomar claimed that in 1999 he obtained a [[LLB|LL.B.]] degree from Bishwanath Singh Institute of Legal Studies, [[Munger]], affiliated to [[Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University]], Bihar, which is now disputed. He was enrolled with the [[Bar Council of Delhi]] (BCD) and was self-employed.<ref name="aff">{{cite web|url=http://docs2.myneta.info/affidavits/ews3delhi2015/97/U05_AC16_1_JITENDER%20SINGH%20TOMAR.pdf|title=Jitender Singh Tomar Affidavit|website=myneta.info/|accessdate=17 February 2015|archive-date=17 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217141743/http://docs2.myneta.info/affidavits/ews3delhi2015/97/U05_AC16_1_JITENDER%20SINGH%20TOMAR.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="TOi"/>

==Political career==
Tomar was associated with the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC). In 2013, he joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and as its candidate contested the [[2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election]]s from the [[Tri Nagar (Delhi Assembly constituency)|Tri Nagar constituency]]. He lost by 2809 votes to [[Nand Kishore Garg]] of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP).<ref name="DNA">{{cite news |url=http://www.iamin.in/en/chandni-chowk/news/those-who-left-aap-and-joined-bjp-are-opportunists-jitender-singh-tomar-51103 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215202216/http://www.iamin.in/en/chandni-chowk/news/those-who-left-aap-and-joined-bjp-are-opportunists-jitender-singh-tomar-51103 |url-status=unfit |archive-date=15 February 2015 |title=Those who left AAP and joined BJP are opportunists: Jitender Singh Tomar |work=DNA |date=27 January 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2015}}</ref>

In the [[2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election]]s, Tomar again stood as an AAP candidate and beat Garg by 22,311 votes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eciresults.ap.nic.in/ConstituencywiseU0567.htm|title=Constituency-wise Results |publisher=Election Commission of India |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210143352/http://eciresults.ap.nic.in/ConstituencywiseU0567.htm?ac=1 |archivedate=10 February 2015 }}</ref> On 14 February 2015, Tomar was sworn as a cabinet minister in the [[Government of Delhi]] under chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. He was given responsibility for the Home, Law and Justice, and Tourism, Art and Culture portfolios.<ref name="PTI">{{cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/Jitender-singh-tomar-a-lawyer-with-congress-background-gets-crucial-home-law-departments-in-aap-ki-sarkar/528463-37.html |title=Jitender Singh Tomar: A lawyer with Congress background gets crucial home, law departments in 'AAP' Ki Sarkar |work=CNN-IBN |date=14 February 2015 |agency=Press Trust of India |accessdate=17 February 2015}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The Home Ministry role was taken away from Tomar in April 2015 during a period of considerable party infighting<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.asianage.com/delhi/jitender-singh-tomar-removed-home-minister-956 |title=Jitender Singh Tomar removed as home minister |last=Zargar |first=Harish |date=11 April 2015 |work=Asian Age |access-date=9 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610131402/http://www.asianage.com/delhi/jitender-singh-tomar-removed-home-minister-956 |archivedate=10 June 2015 }}</ref> and on 9 June 2015 he resigned from his position as Law Minister after being arrested in relation to allegations that he had misrepresented his qualifications.<ref name="ibn20150609">{{cite news |url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/politics/aap-leader-jitender-singh-tomar-resigns-as-delhi-law-minister-1004082.html |title=AAP leader Jitender Singh Tomar resigns as Delhi Law Minister |date=9 June 2015 |work=IBN Live |accessdate=11 June 2015}}</ref>

==Fake degree row==
In February 2015, prior to the declaration of the election results, a petition was filed in the [[Delhi High Court]] challenging Tomar's declared university degrees. This was based on an [[Right to Information Act|RTI]] enquiry to which [[Avadh University]] had responded by saying that it had not awarded him a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. It was on the basis of that degree that Tomar had enrolled for his law degree course, and thus his law degree and enrolment with the Bar was invalid. The court requested more information from the concerned organisations,<ref>{{cite news |title=Row over degree: HC notice to AAP candidate, ECI and BCI |url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/delhi/row-over-degree-hc-notice-to-aap-candidate-eci-and-bci_1542127.html |date=6 February 2015 |work=Zee News |agency=Press Trust of India |accessdate=9 June 2015}}</ref> while Tomar now insisted that he holds a valid law degree from the [[Chaudhary Charan Singh University]].<ref name="TOi">{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/HC-notice-to-AAP-MLA-facing-fake-degree-charge/articleshow/46239240.cms |title=HC notice to AAP MLA facing fake degree charge |work=The Times of India |date=14 February 2015 |accessdate=17 February 2015}}</ref>

In March 2015, the Delhi High Court refused to disallow the petition against Tomar, expressing surprise that the filer had requested its withdrawal. The petitioner had argued that, upon reflection, the BCD could deal with the matter without recourse to the court system.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/row-over-degree-hc-disallows-withdrawal-of-plea-against-jitender-singh-tomar/articleshow/46552117.cms |title=Row over degree: HC disallows withdrawal of plea against Jitender Singh Tomar |work=The Economic Times |agency=Press Trust of India |date=13 March 2015 |accessdate=11 June 2015}}</ref> Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University told the court that it had no record of awarding Tomar a law degree.<ref name="hindu20150428" /> The [[Chief Minister of Delhi]], Kejriwal, defended Tomar over the matter and called for a "public trial" of the media, claiming it was biased against his party.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/arvind-kejriwal-defends-minister-over-fake-degree-row-seeks-public-trial-of-media-houses-760215 |title=Arvind Kejriwal Defends Minister Over Fake Degree Row, Seeks 'Public Trial' of Media Houses |date=3 May 2015 |publisher=NDTV |accessdate=11 June 2015}}</ref>

The BCD requested that Tomar produce verification of his qualifications and in May, when it determined that these were not forthcoming in a timely manner, it took a "prima facie" view that he had sought enrolment as a lawyer on basis of "forged documentation and false representation". They filed a complaint with Delhi police seeking a "detailed investigation" on the allegations and registration of a criminal case if needed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bar Council holds Jitender Singh Tomar guilty of using fake papers |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Bar-Council-holds-Jitender-Singh-Tomar-guilty-of-using-fake-papers/articleshow/47256511.cms |date=13 May 2015 |work=The Times of India |accessdate=9 June 2015}}</ref>

On 27 May 2015, BNS Institute of Legal Studies, Munger, which was the college affiliated to Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University where the Tomar claimed to have studied LLB, told the court that Tomar was a "bona fide student".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/fake-degree-row-tomar-was-a-bonafide-student-university/ |title='Fake' degree row – Tomar was a bona fide student: University |date=28 May 2015 |work=The Indian Express |accessdate=11 June 2015}}</ref> The University had already told the court in April that the Institute had been dis-affiliated in 1990.<ref name="hindu20150428">{{cite news |work=The Hindu |date=28 April 2015 |title=AAP Law Minister Tomar's law degree fabricated, High Court told |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/aap-law-minister-tomars-law-degree-fabricated-high-court-told/article7150541.ece |accessdate=11 June 2015}}</ref>

The police went to Bhagalpur University, where they determined Tomar's law degree to be fraudulent.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://allindiaroundup.com/news/delhi-law-minister-arrested/ |title=Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar Arrested Over 'Fake' Law Degree. AAP, BJP In An Open War |date=9 June 2015 |accessdate=11 June 2015 |work=All-India Roundup}}</ref> He was arrested on 9 June 2015 and remanded in police custody for four days. His license to practise at the Bar was suspended and he resigned as Law Minister on the same day.<ref name="ibn20150609" />

During investigations, Tomar reportedly told police that his brother helped him obtain the fake degree. Police might ask Tomar's brother to join investigation since they suspect an interstate fake-degree racket. On 15 June 2015, Tomar's police custody was extended by a magisterial court. Tomar withdrew his bail plea on the following day.<ref name="Tomar's brother a suspect">{{cite news|title=Tomar's brother a suspect|work=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=1 June 2015|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Jitender-Singh-Tomars-brother-a-suspect-asked-to-join-degree-probe/articleshow/47698033.cms}}</ref> The case was being heard by the [[Supreme Court of India]] in 2017,<ref>{{cite news |title=Delhi ex-minister appears in court in fake degree case |agency=Indo-Asian News Service |date=19 April 2017 |work=The Statesman |accessdate=20 January 2019 |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/delhi-ex-minister-appears-in-court-in-fake-degree-case-1492600334.html}}</ref> shortly after Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University cancelled his "degree".<ref>{{cite news |work=Hindustan Times |title=Bihar university cancels AAP MLA Jitender Singh Tomar's law degree |date=20 March 2017 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/bihar-university-cancels-aap-mla-jitender-singh-tomar-s-law-degree/story-ciAxabPJKqYWAmXyOcVysN.html |accessdate=20 January 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=40em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tomar, Jitender Singh}}
[[Category:Aam Aadmi Party MLAs from Delhi]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Delhi MLAs 2015–2020]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Indian prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:State cabinet ministers of Delhi]]
[[Category:People from Etah district]]
[[Category:Forgery controversies]]
[[Category:Inmates of Tihar Jail]]
[[Category:People who fabricated academic degrees]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Delhi]]
[[Category:Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University alumni]]

Jitender Singh Tomar - Revision history

LiveHi at 08:22, 30 September 2025