Delhi HC seeks response on plea for 50% women’s quota in DUSU, college polls

The plea also refers to the Uttarakhand government's decision mandating 50 per cent reservation for female candidates in student union elections in state universities. It claims that several colleges affiliated with Delhi University and institutions outside Delhi have also adopted provisions providing reservation for female students in student union elections.

The petition further refers to the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee, which were introduced to reform student elections and curb the influence of money and muscle power, and alleges that continued violations of the prescribed norms have adversely affected the fairness and inclusiveness of the electoral process.

Petitioner Hussain had earlier approached various authorities through representations seeking 50 per cent reservation for female students. The petition states that representations were submitted to Delhi University authorities in October 2023 and subsequently to the Union government and university authorities in 2024.

The present PIL was instituted after Delhi University issued its notification for the DUSU elections on August 13, 2026. The matter also has a previous history before the Delhi High Court.

In September 2024, the High Court had declined to judicially examine a similar plea seeking 50 per cent reservation for women in student union elections, while directing Delhi University to decide within three weeks on a representation made by Hussain, then an MA (Buddhist Studies) student at the university's Arts Faculty.

A Bench headed by then Acting Chief Justice Manmohan had asked the university administration to take a decision on the representation and orally directed it to ensure the safety and security of women students during the election process.

The earlier plea had highlighted that women constituted around 53 per cent of Delhi University's students, but their political participation and representation in DUSU and college student unions remained low. It had argued that issues such as sexual harassment, hostel curfew timings and safety often failed to receive adequate attention in student election manifestos because of the lack of adequate representation of women.

Hussain, who had served as Vice President of the student union at Delhi University's Deshbandhu College in 2017, has sought directions to ensure gender parity and meaningful participation of women in student governance.

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