The Delhi High Court has reprimanded the authorities and student unions over the allegations of violence and vandalism during campaigning for the Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) elections.
But it ordered Delhi University and the Delhi Police to file status reports on the action taken over the incidents by tomorrow. The court did not stay the elections. It warned that it may stop the counting of votes and postpone results if it is not satisfied with the reports. “The court will not accept any excuse. We are not staying or postponing the elections, but if we are not satisfied with the report, we can pass a harsher order, including stopping the counting and postponing the result. A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Teja Karia was hearing an application filed by lawyer Prashant Manchanda in his petition seeking action against candidates indulging in defacement of public property.
The original petition was moved in 2017.
The court today pulled up the university, the Centre, and Delhi Police for failing to control such incidents, stating it was “unacceptable at any cost” to allow the student polls to turn into what’s reflected in the material placed before it. If you are unable to control the situation, we know how to get it done,” the court said. Wednesday was the “blackest day” in the history of DUSU elections, the lawyer said during today’s hearing, pointing out to reports that students and teachers were beaten on the campus.
