'Illiterate Behavior ' says Court on property damage during DUSU elections

The University of Delhi has scheduled student union elections for the session 2024-25 for September 27,2024. Amidst the campaign season, the Delhi High Court has criticized the procedure and practices before the DUSU elections.  Few days back the Delhi University (DU) Chief Election Officer issued a notice on September 23,2024. It is against the defacement of the university campus walls, mentioned that strict action would be taken against those candidates whose names were found on posters stuck on walls.

Defacement is visible on DU walls, pillars, roads, vehicles, bus stops, canteens and in fact the metro station as well.

The Delhi High Court in Wednesday, September 25,2024 remarked the defacement of public property during the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections, with the bench criticizing that people are "behaving like illiterates" in an academic institution, and adding that the election system was not there to corrupt the youth.
The bench consisted of Chief Justice Designate Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela.

While the Court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Prashant Manchnda, to seek action againy the aspiring DUSU candidates and student political groups involved in demanding public walls, classrooms and other infrastructure as well.

The petitioner argued that this defacement not only mars public spaces but also deprives students of their right to a clean educational environment.

In response the bench gave recommendations of several actions that can be taken against the unlawful and unethical activities.
They suggested either to postpone the elections, disqualifying the candidates and starting the process again. Or to conduct the elections but not announce the results until the defacement is cleared across the premises.

As per the official notice, the nomination must be submitted in a selected box which will be placed in the office of the Chief Election Officer, DUSU Elections 2024-25, the timings will be from 10:00AM to 5:00PM on any working day.

This year the elections are scheduled on September 27, 2024.Violation of the guidelines mentioned in the notice can lead to the disqualification of the candidates. Even the High Court has criticized the actions of DUSU candidates.