Plea in Delhi HC says political parties involved in DUSU election, seeks fresh candidate list

A petition challenging the ongoing Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections has been filed before the Delhi High Court alleging violations of the Lyngdoh Committee’s rules governing student elections, particularly the rule mandating non-involvement of political parties [Ms Vijeta v Union of India & Ors.].

A Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia agreed to hear the petition on Wednesday after it was mentioned before the Court.

The plea, filed by one Delhi University student Vijeta, alleges that the University failed to implement the Supreme Court's directions on keeping student elections free from political party influence.

The petition seeks judicial intervention to ensure that the DUSU elections are conducted in accordance with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and the Supreme Court's September 22, 2006 order.

The plea particularly relied on Clause 6.3 of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, which concerns the disassociation of student elections and student representation from political parties.

The plea alleges that student wings of political parties, including National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP's) student wing Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), and a Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students' Association (AISA) alliance, issued panels or declared candidates for the DUSU elections.

The petition contends that such political endorsements are contrary to the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations as well as the DUSU Constitution.

Additionally, the plea has also challenged the September 11 notice by the Chief Election Officer shortlisting candidates for the posts of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Joint Secretary of DUSU. It alleges that the shortlisted candidates include representatives of political party student wings and that their candidature is therefore liable to be quashed.

The plea further alleges that political interference has also resulted in wall defacement, unauthorised banners, posters, hoardings and rallies during the election process.

"It is an open secret that leaders of political parties freely participate in election campaigns on the campuses of University of Delhi. Posters and hoardings supporting political parties are also displayed on the campuses of these universities. The defacement of walls and buildings became a matter of grave concern during the recent student union elections in the University of Delhi. Such defacement of university and college property is absolutely prohibited under the Lyngdoh Committee Report accepted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court," states the plea.

The plea refers to the Supreme Court's September 22, 2006 order in University of Kerala v. Council, Principals' Colleges, Kerala & Ors., through which the Court accepted the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and directed their implementation as an interim measure. It states that the framework includes safeguards against political influence, restrictions on political funding and election expenditure, and rules governing campaign conduct and preservation of university property.

The petitioner has sought enforcement of these directions and the conduct of DUSU elections in accordance with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations.

The petition was filed through advocates Sneh Vardhan and Pratibha Sinha.

Advocate Barun Kumar Sinha mentioned the matter before the Court.

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