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The Delhi High Court on Thursday said that anyone, who is in a position to pay Rs. 1 lakh in terms of Delhi University's mandate, including guardian, can stand as a surety for the students contesting the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, and not necessarily only parents.

Justice Jasmeet Singh was dealing with a plea filed by two All India Students' Association (AISA) activists, wanting to contest the 2026 polls, challenging a directive issued by the varsity mandating students candidates to submit an indemnity affidavit and furnish Rs 1 lakh surety bond bearing signature of their parents.

“The condition is fair and reasonable except that the bond need not only be (furnished) by the parents and can be by anyone, including guardian, who is in the position to pay Rs. 1 lakh and stand as a surety,” the Court said.

The DUSU elections are scheduled for September 18. The results are expected to be released on September 19.

During the hearing, the Court orally remarked that during the elections time, the situation is a chaos and that conditions of walls of every college is “pitiable.”

“Don't let your parents give it (surety bond) but anyone who has the financial means to pay,” Justice Singh also told the petitioners' counsel.

The counsel appearing for Delhi University said that the impugned condition has only been put to prevent any damage to property, including walls of the colleges, which after every election is in a state of disarray.

He said that the purpose of furnishing the bond by parents is only for the purpose of ensuring that some solvent person, who is in a position to pay in case the candidate is found violating the terms of undertaking and the bond, can furnish Rs. 1 lakh.

The Court ultimately disposed of the plea, while clarifying that not just the parents but anyone including guardian having the capacity to pay the amount can be the surety.

The petitioners- Ananya Raturi and Akshat Shikhar challenged the mandate as per which the candidates have to declare that their parents are aware that they are contesting the election.

It also requires their parents or guardians to stand as surety for payment of Rs. 1 lakh in case of any infringement or violation of the Lyngdoh guidelines, notifications, orders or judgments. 

It was their case that the impugned mandate amounts to making adult students dependent on parental consent to contest the polls.

The plea also raised concerns about students who are financially independent or whose parents or guardians may not be willing to undertake such a liability.

To recall, a coordinate bench last year had clarified that the students contesting 2025 elections need not deposit the bond of Rs. 1 lakh.

Title: ANANYA RATURI & ANR v. Delhi University & Ors

Case Title: W.P.(C)-12832/2026

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