A plea challenging the ongoing Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections has been filed before the Delhi High Court alleging violations of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and the Supreme Court's directions on keeping student elections free from political party influence. The petition, filed by Delhi University student Vijeta through advocates Sneh Vardhan and Pratibha Sinha, contends that student wings of political parties have issued panels or declared candidates for the DUSU elections, contrary to the mandate of non-involvement of political parties in student elections.
Grounds of the petition
The plea particularly relies on Clause 6.3 of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, which concerns the disassociation of student elections and student representation from political parties. It alleges that the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the Aam Aadmi Party's student wing Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), and a Students' Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students' Association (AISA) alliance have endorsed or declared candidates for the DUSU elections. Such political endorsements, the petition states, are contrary to both the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and the DUSU Constitution.
The petition further challenges the September 11 notice issued by the Chief Election Officer shortlisting candidates for the posts of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Joint Secretary of DUSU. It alleges that the shortlisted candidates include representatives of political party student wings and that their candidature is therefore liable to be quashed. Additionally, the plea claims that political interference has resulted in wall defacement, unauthorised banners, posters, hoardings and rallies during the election process, which it states is absolutely prohibited under the Lyngdoh Committee Report accepted by the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
Court's initial response
The petition was mentioned before a Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, which agreed to hear the plea on Wednesday. The Bench noted that the petition seeks judicial intervention to ensure that the DUSU elections are conducted in accordance with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and the Supreme Court's September 22, 2006 order in University of Kerala v. Council, Principals' Colleges, Kerala & Ors., through which the Court accepted the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and directed their implementation as an interim measure.
The plea refers to the aforesaid Supreme Court order, which framed a framework including safeguards against political influence, restrictions on political funding and election expenditure, and rules governing campaign conduct and preservation of university property. The petitioner has sought enforcement of these directions and the conduct of DUSU elections in accordance with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations. Advocate Barun Kumar Sinha mentioned the matter before the Court.