Today(26th Sept),The Delhi High Court has instructed the University of Delhi to remove all campaign posters ahead of the DUSU elections. Counting of votes will be on hold until the court is satisfied that the public properties are restored.
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NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, today(26th Sept), the Delhi High Court has issued a strict directive to the University of Delhi (DU) to remove all campaign posters, hoardings, and spray-painted messages before proceeding with the election process. The court further emphasized that although the elections are scheduled to take place tomorrow(27th Sept), the counting of votes would only be allowed once the court is assured that the public properties have been restored and all campaign defacement has been addressed.
The bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, expressed concern over the University’s oversight and stated that DU must ensure all election materials causing defacement in public spaces are promptly removed. It was reiterated that any further progress in the election process, particularly vote counting, would be contingent upon compliance with the court’s directive.
During the hearing, the High Court criticized Delhi University for its apparent lack of control over the election environment, particularly with regard to the defacement of public property.
“If you are unable to manage 21 students running for election, how will you oversee lakhs of students enrolled here?”
-the court remarked sharply.
This statement underscores the court’s dissatisfaction with the university’s failure to regulate the conduct of candidates during the election campaign.
Additionally, the court took steps to ensure the security of the election process by directing DU to keep all Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and ballot papers in a secure location until the defacement issue is resolved. This precautionary measure reflects the court’s seriousness about ensuring a fair and transparent election.
Another critical directive from the court involved the financial aspect of the defacement. The Delhi High Court instructed that all expenses incurred by civic agencies for cleaning up the defacement should be borne by the University of Delhi. Furthermore, the court mandated that these costs be recovered from the individual candidates responsible for the campaign vandalism. This ruling sends a clear message that candidates participating in the elections must be held accountable for their actions, particularly when they result in public property damage.
The court voiced its disapproval of the financial conduct surrounding the election campaign, noting that –
“Elections should be a ‘celebration of democracy, not a venue for money laundering.'”
This powerful statement highlights the court’s frustration with the excessive spending and rule violations that have tainted the election process. The bench’s remarks signal the need for a more stringent and transparent approach to student elections within the university.
The High Court made it clear that if the defacement caused during the election campaign is not rectified, it may consider deferring or even annulling the DUSU elections. This comes as part of the court’s larger concerns about maintaining the integrity of the election process in light of the widespread violation of rules governing election campaigns.
The court underscored the role of the Vice Chancellor in ensuring compliance with election regulations and maintaining a fair election environment.
“You’ve to come down with a heavy hand,”
– the court urged, calling for decisive action from the University’s leadership to prevent further violations and restore public spaces. The bench emphasized that failure to do so could result in serious consequences for the election, including the possibility of cancelling the results.
The DUSU elections are scheduled for tomorrow, with the results set to be announced on September 28. However, the final outcome of the elections now hinges on whether the University complies with the High Court’s order to remove all campaign materials and restore defaced public property.
