Delhi High Court Bars Victory Procession By Candidates Elected In DUSU Polls, Warns Of Contempt If Regulatory Norms Violated

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (September 17) barred any kind of victory procession by candidates, including their supporters, who are elected in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections scheduled to take place on September 18.“We direct that after declaration of results, no victory procession, either in the campus or in the hostels or any area in the city of Delhi shall be taken by any candidate or the supporters,” a division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela ordered.The counsel appearing for the Delhi Police told the Court that as per an updated status report, 654 challans were issued yesterday over violations of regulatory norms during campaigning for the polls. Advocate Prashant Manchanda, appearing in person (petitioner), told Court that even yesterday, campaigning was done by the candidates and their supporters using “huge cars.”As the Court was informed that the voting will take place tomorrow and the counting of votes is scheduled for September 19, it ordered:“We thus direct the Delhi Police, the administration of the University and also the civil administration of the area concerned to take all possible and permissible steps to ensure that during polling, or even before and after that, no untoward incident takes place, neither any violation of regulatory norms or measures are permitted.”The Bench reiterated its direction that any violation by any student, a candidate or non-candidate, shall be viewed seriously and may amount to contempt of court. The Court directed the Delhi Police and the administration of the varsity to file fresh status reports and listed the matter on September 19. It added that the authorities must state in their status reports as to whether, during or before or after the polling, any violations are found and what action has been taken over the same. As the Court hinted on staying the elections noting that there have been large scale violations of the norms, the counsel appearing for the Delhi University said that the matter be kept pending and the polls may not be stayed. The counsel said that show cause notices have been issued to the candidates and the varsity has to provide them an opportunity of hearing. On this, the CJ remarked:“We may tell you if your reports are not positive, then counting may go on but we will stop functioning of the office bearers. We are not interfering with the elections but if the reports are not satisfactory, if they are not conducted in peaceful manner, we may think of passing such order.”Yesterday, the Court had said that it hopes and expects that no violation of regulatory measures takes place during the elections. Earlier, the Bench had said that there was prima facie violation of anti-defacement guidelines and other norms in the DUSU elections. It had added that the polls must take place in an orderly manner, without defacement of properties or illegal plying of vehicles.The Bench was dealing with a plea moved by Advocate Prashant Manchanda in 2017 seeking action against the candidates indulging in the defacement of public properties. The plea also sought the removal of the defacement and refurbishment of the areas. A fresh application was moved by Manchanda raising concerns about violation of guidelines and other prescribed measures framed to ensure that elections of DUSU are held in an orderly and peaceful manner.Title: Prashant Manchanda v. Union of India & Ors Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 1133

Delhi High Court Bars Victory Procession By Candidates Elected In DUSU Polls, Warns Of Contempt If Regulatory Norms Violated

Nupur Thapliyal

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