DUSU Polls: Delhi High Court Says Student Wing Members Can Contest But Warns Against Political Party Interference

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (September 16) held that a student, being a member of a political party's student wing, is not barred from contesting Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) polls.

For context, Lyngdoh Committee recommendations prescribe that student elections in colleges and universities must remain free from political party influence.

The Court was hearing a plea challenging the election notification concerning the upcoming DUSU polls for the academic year 2026–27, over alleged political influence.

A division bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia however held,

"Unless and until anyone, maybe a student, who is member of political party as defined in Representation of People's Act, participates in the election process, merely because he is member of the student wing of the said political party would not amount to association of such a student with the political party and therefore it will not in intself be violation of Clause 6.3.1 of Lyngdoh Committee recommendations." 

Under Clause 6.3 of the Lyngdoh Committee Report, student body elections must remain entirely free from direct or indirect political party influence.

Clause 6.3.1. prohibits participation of any person in the process who is not a student on the rolls of college/university.

In the Court's opinion, the clause would mean that the entire election process of union and representation of students should be completely disassociated from the political party.

"Further if any such person who is not a bonafide of college/university participates in election process he may be subjected to disciplinary proceedings and such participation of such a person may lead to revocation of candidature as well. What is prohibited is association of political parties in student election process."

The Court however cautioned against political interference in the election process and asked DU authorities and the Chief Election Officer to check the same. 

"...anyone who is member of political party or associated with it has no role whatsoever with DUSU elections. It is thus the duty of University authorities and chief election officer to ensure that elections of DUSU which are going on are completely free from any participation, interference, even remotely by persons associated with political party. If we peruse the poster appended with writ petition, what we find is that a particular candidate is not only claiming candidature for post of president but is clearly indicating association with the said political party. Such activity needs to be checked by DU authorities and chief election officer. 

The court also said that Chief Election Officer and other responsible authorities of university are expected to ensure that any interference from any person or member of a political party is duly checked and the Code of Conduct, recommendation of Lyngdoh Committee as accepted by Supreme Court in University of Kerala judgment, orders passed by HC from time to time and provisions of Delhi Defacement of Property Act are complied with.

"Any failure on part of University authorities in implementation cannot be approved," the court added.

The counsel for petitioner stated that different student organizations through press releases mediums for publication have announced panel of candidates who are contesting election for DUSU.

The Counsel for petitioner drew Court's attention to a poster issued by Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad which is also a student wing of political party BJP where panel of its candidates have been declared. Similarly students Federation of India, student wing of another political party CPIM, has also been referred to which declares the candidates of alliance of two student organizations namely SFI and AISA. 

The petitioner's counsel referred to another poster allegedly issued by or on behalf of one candidate which depicts a candidate as if he belongs to political party, AAP, the said poster not only contains name of the political party but also bears election symbol of the political party. This has been permitted by DU and is contrary to clause 6. 3 of Lyngdoh Committee and cannot be permitted and notice finalizing list of candidates needs to be quashed, it was argued. 

The ASG representing Union of India stated that recommendation made by Lyngdoh Committee in view of its binding nature pursuant to Supreme Court judgment has to be followed by Delhi University.

Further, Counsel for Delhi University stated that it does not entertain any student organization much less a political party. He has stated that the list where eligible candidates were declared does not mention student organization or the political party concerned and as such practice adopted by DU as per recommendation of Lyngdoh Committee, the constitution of DUSU and Model Code of Conduct. 

The writ petition was disposed of. 

Case title: VIJETA v/s  UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

W.P.(C) - 13504 / 2026