Delhi High Court Summons DUSU Candidates Over Defacement Of Property, Orders Removal Of Posters & Banners

The Delhi High Court has recently summoned 16 candidates who contested the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections over defacement of public property and directed them to appear before it on October 28.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed the candidates to remove the balance posters, banners, hoardings, graffiti and to repaint the walls that had been defaced, in collaboration with the Delhi University or respective colleges.

Taking note of the photographs and videos on record, the Court observed that both the North and South Campus are yet to recover from the 'election excesses'.

“…. they (campuses) continue to look shabby as a large number of posters/hoardings/banners/graffiti are yet to be removed and boundary walls of a number of colleges are still to be repainted,” the bench said.

The court 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. An application was moved by Manchanda against the recent vandalism and defacement amid DUSU polls.

Last month, the Court had halted the process of counting of votes for the elections of the Delhi University and other colleges in the wake of candidates indulging in acts of vandalism and defacement of public property. Later, the Court had said that it will counting of votes to take place the next day if all the defacement is cleaned up.

In its status report, the Delhi University stated that more than 90 per cent of the colleges have made their campus free from any defacement. However, the stand was vehemently disputed by Manchanda as well as by counsels for MCD and DMRC.

While impleading the 16 candidates as party in the matter, the Court ordered:

“Delhi University is directed to inform the newly impleaded respondents by WhatsApp as well as by E-mail to appear before this Court on the next date of hearing.”

It further directed the Delhi University, Delhi Police and MCD to file fresh status reports before the next date of hearing.

The matter will now be heard on October 28.

Title: Prashant Manchanda v. Union of India & Ors.

Click here to read order