Today, On 11th November, The High Court granted permission for the counting of DUSU votes, provided the university approves the campus cleaning initiative led by students. The court’s decision is contingent upon the varsity’s agreement to the cleaning efforts as part of the electoral process. This move comes after concerns over the cleanliness of the campus were raised. The court emphasized that the vote counting will proceed once the necessary arrangements are confirmed.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court allowed Delhi University to commence the vote counting for its student union elections held earlier in 2024, contingent upon the court’s satisfaction with the measures taken by students to clean up the campus.
The vote counting had been suspended by a bench consisting of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, who noted significant defacement and damage to the university and other public properties.
Read Also: [DUSU 2024 Polls] “Appear, Explain Property Defacement”: HC to Delhi University Students
The bench stated on Monday,
“The matter is closed with a direction to DU to proceed with the counting process on or before November 26, provided it is satisfied that the remaining sites are cleaned,”
The bench observed that while most colleges and faculties in both north and south campuses had been cleaned by the candidates, photographs revealed properties near the campus still displaying posters and graffiti.
The counsel for the candidates assured the court that any such materials would be removed from the remaining properties.
The bench emphasized that the intent of the proceedings was to bring about reform, not to punish the students.
Advocate Prashant Manchanda submitted a plea calling for action against the prospective DUSU candidates and student organizations for allegedly damaging, defacing, and destroying public property.
Although polling occurred on September 27, the vote counting, originally planned for September 28, was postponed until all defacement materials, such as posters, hoardings, and graffiti, were cleared and public property restored.