The Delhi High Court on Monday called upon several candidates who participated in the recent Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections to provide explanations regarding the alleged defacement of public property during the campaign period. The court’s directive comes in response to a plea accusing the candidates and their supporting student organizations of damaging and defacing public spaces with election materials.
Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, presiding over the case, have scheduled a hearing for October 28, where the implicated candidates are required to account for their actions. The court has expressed significant concern over the administrative lapses that allowed such widespread defacement, impacting the aesthetic and structural integrity of public property around the university.
In a stern communication to the counsel for Delhi University, the court emphasized the need for immediate remedial actions and better oversight by university authorities. The vice-chancellor has been specifically urged to address these issues to prevent future occurrences.
This legal intervention paused the DUSU election process, with the court halting the counting of votes originally scheduled for September 28, a day after the polling. The halt was ordered to ensure that all campaign materials such as posters, hoardings, and graffiti were removed and that the affected public properties were restored to their original state.
