The Delhi High Court has issued notices to 140 candidates contesting the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) election over violence during the campaign and asked why action, including compensation, should not be taken against them. The court has also barred victory processions in view of the violence reported during the election period.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia directed the candidates and student organisations to respond within two weeks. The court said individual candidates would receive show-cause notices, while student organisations could face collective liability for damage linked to the violence.
The bench questioned the conduct of the candidates and organisations, including ABVP and NSUI, and asked whether they were acting as students while participating in election-related meetings intended to ensure compliance with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations. The court also warned that fines could be imposed collectively on the student organisations.
The judges said the conduct seen during DUSU elections had continued year after year without sufficient change. The bench referred to an incident in which a student allegedly slapped a professor after winning an election and said victory should lead to humility. The court also questioned how such incidents could occur in the national capital.
The court directed Delhi University and other responsible authorities to take all possible preventive measures to ensure compliance with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and previous court orders. It also instructed Delhi Police and university officials to act to prevent violations of the rules governing student elections.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi and other departments were directed to ensure that public property was not damaged. The court said that the concerned agency should take immediate action if any violation was found. The directions place responsibility on the university, police and civic authorities to prevent election-related damage and enforce existing rules.
Counsel appearing for Delhi University apologised before the bench and said the university would examine the candidates. The court questioned what such an examination would achieve. A lawyer representing ASAP also apologised and told the court that the organisation was contesting only two posts.
The notices require the candidates and student organisations to explain their conduct within two weeks. The High Court will then consider the responses and the question of imposing individual or collective election-related compensation.
