High Court bars counting of votes
The Delhi High Court on Thursday paused the counting of votes for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, citing vandalism and defacement of public properties by candidates.
A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela ruled that no votes shall be counted until the court is satisfied that all posters, graffiti, and spray-paint are removed and the affected public spaces are restored.
The ruling followed a petition filed in 2017 by Advocate Prashant Manchanda, seeking action against candidates for defacing public properties, which resurfaced due to similar violations during the current DUSU elections.
Another petition highlighted the breach of Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, which set the framework for student elections. The court expressed frustration with Delhi University's inability to enforce discipline and ensure compliance.
The court ordered Delhi University to bear these costs initially, which can later be recovered from the candidates responsible.
