DUSU election vote count to remain on hold till students clean up defaced property: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered the students of Ramjas College and Law Faculty to coordinate with the Delhi University to clean up and repaint property defaced on college premises during campaigns for the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections [Prashant Manchanda vs Union of India & Ors].

The Bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela made it clear that the vote-counting process for the elections can only start once this clean-up process is completed.

“We will allow counting the next day, but get it cleaned and repainted first… We are just sending a message," Chief Justice Manmohan said.

The Bench also ordered that photos and a status report be submitted to show that this has been done.

The Court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Prashant Manchanda against property defacement and littering that took place across Delhi during the DUSU election campaigns.

At the last hearing on September 26, the Court had allowed the elections to take place as scheduled on September 27 but had stayed the vote count until the littering and property defacement complained of was cleaned up.

Today, the Court took up an application filed by election candidates from Ramjas College and Law Faculty. The students sought to be added as parties to the case and alleged that ballot boxes used during the poll process have been tampered with.

The Court eventually impleaded the Ramjas students as respondents to the case, before directing them to repaint defaced walls and to get all posters and stickers put up during election campaigns removed.

“You have spent so much money, you can afford to clean the place, repaint it. What are you doing, what are you becoming? Free food was being distributed. I have not seen this even in the general election," Chief Justice Manmohan added.

Chief Justice Manmohan also suggested the students should lead a campaign in their colleges to clean their campus.

“DU is not seizing the leadership, there is a crisis of leadership. Here the student has no connect with the university. Student must have an attachment to the college where they study ..You believe in climate change, you should ensure that climate in at least DU and Law Faculty changes,” Chief Justice Manmohan said.

Meanwhile, Manchanda (petitioner) appeared in person and mentioned a social campaign by Delhi residents to send messages regarding such property defacement and littering. 

The matter will be heard next on October 21.