Gibran Rakabuming Raka to Challenge High School Diploma Validity in PTUN

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka confirmed his intent to challenge the legal status of his high school equivalency certificate through the State Administrative Court (PTUN), despite existing rulings from the nation’s highest judicial bodies.

Gibran stated he aims to resolve the dispute to prevent it from becoming a long-term political polemic, Detik news reported on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

The legal impasse stems from a Supreme Court (MA) ruling, specifically Cassation Decision Number 742 K/TUN/2026 issued on October 30, 2026, which declared the 2019 equivalency certificate invalid and void by law, according to Hukumonline. This decision followed a Constitutional Court (MK) ruling, Number 01/PHPU.PRES-XXIV/2026, which noted a lack of evidence regarding Gibran’s high school diploma or equivalent certification.

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra asserted that the legal path is effectively closed. There are already two decisions from our country’s highest judicial bodies, Yusril said at the Presidential Palace complex on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

He noted that because the Constitutional Court’s decision is final and binding, and because Gibran was not an intervening defendant in the Supreme Court case, there is no procedural avenue for an appeal or a judicial review (PK) by the Vice President.

Contradicting the Vice President’s stated plan, Syahganda Nainggolan, head of the Government Communication Agency, suggested that President Prabowo Subianto would not advise such a move, as the administration’s legal stance is represented by Yusril, CNN Indonesia reported. However, Gibran maintained that he met with President Prabowo, whom he described as a mentor, and claimed the President suggested he continue the fight in court.

One of his suggestions was that I remain firm in the PTUN by presenting all documents from elementary school to university, and coordinate with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to file a PK at the Supreme Court, Gibran stated.

Constitutional law expert Margarito Kamis noted that from a legal perspective, the matter is settled, leaving only the possibility of political resolution, Compass reported.

Supreme Court Panel Overturns Previous Court Decisions

The Supreme Court panel of judges for the case was led by Yulius, serving as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court’s Administrative Chamber, alongside member judges Maftuf Effendi and Heri Sugiharto, as established by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Consequently, the Jakarta High State Administrative Court Decision Number 130/B/2026/PT.TUN/JKT issued on August 12, 2026—which had upheld the Jakarta State Administrative Court Decision Number 62/G/2026/PTUN.JKT issued on May 12, 2026—could not be sustained and had to be overturned.

In this administrative dispute, the Directorate General of Primary and Secondary Education under the Ministry of Education and Culture held the status of Defendant or Respondent. The certificate in question is Equivalency Letter Number 9149/D/D1/KS/2019, dated August 6, 2019, issued by the Directorate General of Primary and Secondary Education, which stated that Gibran’s education abroad was equivalent to vocational high school (SMK) education with an accounting and finance specialization.

Supreme Court Rules the Certificate Is Legally Invalid

The Supreme Court ruled on October 30, 2026, that the certificate, issued in 2019, is legally invalid and void, according to ANTARA News Bali. The court found that the issuance of the document lacked the necessary supporting records of graduation from an international or foreign school curriculum.

Yusril explained that the Constitutional Court’s ruling is final and binding, leaving no further legal recourse. Furthermore, because Gibran was not a formal party or an intervening defendant in the Supreme Court litigation, he lacks the legal standing to file for a judicial review or appeal the decision, Detik news reported.

Gibran announced he plans to present his complete educational records, ranging from elementary school through his university degree, to defend his position in the State Administrative Court.