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The Delhi High Court strongly criticised the defacement of public property during the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections, with the bench remarking that people are “behaving like illiterates” in an academic institution, and adding that the election system was not there to corrupt the youth.
The court expressed concern over the sheer amount of money being spent, calling it a “festival of democracy, not a festival of laundering money.”
The court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Prashant Manchanda, seeking action against prospective DUSU candidates and student political groups involved in damaging public walls, classrooms, and other infrastructure.
The petitioner argued that this defacement not only mars public spaces but also deprives students of their right to a clean educational environment.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Designate Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said that the defacement during the DUSU polls was worse than in general elections.
Reviewing photographs of the damage, the court asked the Delhi University vice chancellor to step in and take strict action against the guilty candidates.
The court suggested several measures– that the university could consider postponing the elections, slated for September 27, or disqualifying the involved candidates and restarting the nomination process.
Alternatively, they proposed allowing the polling to proceed but withholding the results until all defacement had been cleared.
“Only an illiterate can behave like this,” the bench remarked, adding that the election system is not meant to “corrupt the youth.”
The court also voiced concerns over the significant amounts of money being spent during the elections, indicating crores of rupees were at play.
“People have so much money power in these elections. It is a festival of democracy and not a festival of laundering of money. This is laundering of money, which is going on. These are some crores being spent here,” the bench said.
“The election system is not to corrupt the youth. In a place of learning, people are behaving like illiterates. Only an illiterate can behave like this,” it said.
“Delhi University is doing nothing. Take stringent action so that these people get to know that they cannot get away like this. This shows there is no dearth of money. Let the vice chancellor call a meeting today itself,” the annoyed bench said.
“Tthis amounts to corruption. If the students end up getting corrupt at this stage, there is no end,” it said.
The court directed Delhi Police, along with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Metro, to ensure that no further defacement takes place. The university’s counsel confirmed that erring candidates have already been issued show-cause notices regarding disqualification.
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(With PTI inputs)
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