Students Without 75% Minimum Attendance Can't Contest Delhi University College Students' Union Elections: High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that a student not meeting the criteria of 75% minimum attendance cannot be permitted to contest the Delhi University College Students' Union elections. Justice Mini Pushkarna said that if the attendance of a candidate is below the minimum 75% attendance criteria, the concerned College would be within its authority to reject the nomination of such an individual.The Court was dealing with a plea filed by one Muskan, challenging the Election Notice issued on September 11 whereby her nomination was excluded from the final list of candidates for the Satyawati College Students' Union elections 2025-26.A further prayer was sought on Satyawati College and the Delhi University to allow her to contest the polls. She is a third year B.A. (Programme) student at the college of the Delhi University. Her nomination was rejected on the grounds of short attendance. The Court perused the notice issued by the College and noted that it was stated in categorical terms that the nomination of the various candidates was rejected on the ground of not fulfilling the minimum 75% attendance criteria, as per the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee.“Accordingly, it is evident that a student, who does not meet the criteria of having minimum 75% attendance, cannot be allowed to stand for elections. Thus, in case, the attendance of the petitioner is below the minimum 75% attendance criteria, the College would be within its authority to reject the nomination of the petitioner, or any other candidate,” the Court said. It further observed that a personal hearing be granted to Muskan by the Grievance Committee and that shall be allowed to show her proof of attendance. The Committee is to consist of five Assistant Professors of the college, as its members.The Court also said that the records shall be duly considered and Muskan's attendance shall be calculated again, in front of her, during the course of the hearing.“The petitioner shall be duly intimated about her attendance, by the Grievance Committee, during the course of hearing itself, after collating all the record,” the Court said.It added that in case, Muskan meets the minimum requirement of 75% attendance, her nomination shall be accepted and she shall be allowed to contest the elections.“In case, the attendance of the petitioner is below the minimum 75% attendance criteria, the petitioner shall be communicated the said fact. In that eventuality, needless to state, the nomination of the petitioner shall stand rejected,” the Court said.It added: “In case, the nomination of the petitioner is accepted by the College, on meeting the minimum attendance criteria, the petitioner shall be allowed to campaign in the extraordinary circumstances, till 9:00 PM today.”Title: MUSKAN v. SATYAWATI COLLEGE & ORSCitation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 1126Click here to read order

Students Without 75% Minimum Attendance Can't Contest Delhi University College Students' Union Elections: High Court

Nupur Thapliyal

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