The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea challenging the results of the recently held Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections over allegations of large-scale electoral malpractice and partisan campaigning by university officials in favour of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
Justice Saurabh Banerjee rejected the petition filed by Vijay Shankar Meena, a National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) candidate who contested the election for DUSU President.
The Court was hearing allegations that university and college officials, including principals, professors and election officers, had openly campaigned for ABVP candidates, compromising the neutrality of the election process.
Relying on photographs, the petitioner sought to substantiate the allegations. However, the Court observed that the photographs did not establish that the persons seen in them were associated with Delhi University or were canvassing for any candidate during the elections.
The Court further noted that the photographs were undated and lacked necessary particulars. It also pointed out that the individuals purportedly seen in the photographs had not been impleaded as parties to the petition.
Justice Banerjee also held that the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations governing student elections in educational institutions could not be applied to the case when the petitioner was unable to establish the dates and times of the alleged incidents.
The petitioner had sought quashing of the DUSU election results declared on September 19, under which ABVP candidate Yash Dabas was elected President with 24,576 votes. Meena polled 22,523 votes, finishing 2,053 votes behind Dabas.
The plea also sought preservation of CCTV footage from five colleges, alleging irregularities in voter turnout and excessive voting. It alleged that Ankit Sangwan and Mohit Dahiya, appointed as election officers at Satyawati College (Morning), had campaigned for ABVP candidates before polling.
Similar allegations were made against a professor at Zakir Hussain College and the University’s Joint Dean.
The petitioner further alleged that voter turnout in some colleges was as high as 80%, despite the overall university-wide turnout being 40.46%. According to the plea, the alleged disparities, coupled with claims of coercion and partisan campaigning, raised concerns regarding the fairness of the elections.
The petitioner had argued that such conduct violated the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, which require institutional neutrality in student elections and prohibit the use of administrative machinery to benefit any candidate or organisation.
During the hearing, Delhi University’s counsel submitted that the petitioner’s representation, which had been made only four days earlier, would be decided as expeditiously as possible.
Taking note of the assurance, the Court dismissed the petition.
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