Delhi High Court approves DUSU elections with conditions amid vandalism concerns

The Delhi High Court gave approval for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) to hold an election on September 27, provided that results would only be announced and counts may begin after damaged campus property was repaired.

The Delhi High Court expressed its disapproval of the vandalism that occurred on campus during the election campaigns and threatened to postpone the election if action was not taken, warning the students' union and election authorities on Wednesday.

Judges Manmohan and Tushar Rao Gedela's bench approved the elections on September 26 but raised grave concerns about the absence of rules and transparency given that candidates were spending hefty sums of money on their campaigns.

The matter's next hearing is scheduled for October 21. A PIL filed by attorney Prashant Manchanda earlier in 2019 asking for a total prohibition on DUSU candidates defacing public property was dismissed by the court.

Another controversy surrounding the DUSU elections came from allegations made by Varun Choudhary, president of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), which is affiliated with the Congress, that individuals connected to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had been designated as polling officers.

Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), the student wing of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, has withdrawn from the campaign after concerns expressed about the credibility of the polls and the absence of university supervision.

The CYSS party secretary, Kamal Tiwari, said that they have decided not to participate in the election after suffering defeats in the Punjab University elections the previous year. Instead, they will concentrate on educating voters in Vidhan Sabha seats about the AAP's youth-oriented policies.

Three years after the epidemic struck, in 2023, elections were held, and Tushar Dedha of the ABVP emerged victorious as president, with Abhi Dahiya of the NSUI securing the vice presidency. The positions of joint secretary and secretary were gained by Sachin Basla and Aparajita of the ABVP, respectively.

There will be competition between the ABVP, NSUI, and AISA-SFI as 1,40,000 students cast ballots in two stages of the election.