DU to appeal to court to exempt varsity from paying compensation of Rs 1 crore to MCD

DUSU elections were conducted on September 27,2024. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will recover compensation amount from University of Delhi. It is for the costs which have been incurred in removing the illegal hoardings, posters and banners during elections which were defaced.

As per a status report, MCD has deployed a team of 37 workers and four trucks for 11 days, from the time period of September 13,2024 to September 26,2024, till a day before DUSU elections for clearing the affected area.

Presently, the declaration of DUSU election results have been put on hold as ordered by the court until the defacement is fully cleared, Initially, the date of result was scheduled for September 28,2024. However, the results are now not likely to be announced until next hearing.

DU will now appeal to the High Court to exempt Rs 1 crore compensation imposed to pat to MCD for the work. The Delhi HC on Monday, October 21,2024 issued notices to candidates who contested for DUSU elections and summoned them to appear before it in the next hearing, scheduled on October 28,2024.

Earlier the court had asked DU to compensate for the cost incurred. It also said, DU may recover the amount from the contesting candidates if it wants.

Asked about the MCD's demand, DU VC Yogesh Singh said the varsity will appeal to exempt the compensation amount.

"It is a significant amount, and we do not have the funds to pay it. We cannot expect the students to cover this fine either. Although we asked the candidates to abide by the rules, they continued to violate them, which has put us in a difficult situation. We will appeal to the court to seek exemption from this amount," VC Singh told PTI.

On the other side, the contesting parties have come forward and showed their concerns regarding the same.