The Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered Delhi University and the candidates who contested the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections to file responses to a petition alleging that winners staged victory processions in breach of the court’s explicit ban.
The petition, filed by advocate Prashant Manchanda, claims the celebrations constitute contempt of court because the bench had, on September 18, directed that no candidate, supporter or any other person should hold a victory procession after the results were announced.
The DUSU results were declared on September 19, a day after polling, and the petitioner alleges that the winning candidates ignored the order and took out processions, prompting the court to seek explanations from the university and the candidates.
The two‑judge bench, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, also asked the petitioner to compile all relevant material into a dossier for further consideration, warning that failure to comply would be taken seriously.
In its earlier hearing, the court warned that it could stay the counting of votes and the declaration of results if authorities did not take satisfactory action against “unruly conduct” and had also sought reasons why electoral damages should not be imposed for violations of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations.
While noting that this year’s election saw no defacement of public property and that traditional drums (dhols) were not used, the bench stressed that the real concern was the display of “muscle and money power” by candidates, indicating that such conduct remains problematic.
Counsel for one of the candidates acknowledged that emotions run high after a win, but argued that the absence of dhols this year showed some restraint; the Chief Justice replied that the use of dhols would not, by itself, be objectionable.
The court’s next step is to review the compiled dossier and decide whether to impose electoral damages or other sanctions, including the possibility of staying the election results if the alleged violations are not remedied.