Delhi High Court Halts DUSU Vote Counting Over Campus Defacement

The Delhi High Court has suspended the counting of votes for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections until the campus is cleared of defacement materials. The court directed the university to ensure that public property is restored and the counting process to remain halted until further orders.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday halted the counting of votes for the DUSU elections, scheduled for Friday, until all defacement materials including posters, hoardings, and graffiti are removed and public property is restored. A bench comprising Chief Justice-designate Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela emphasized the counting process would remain suspended until the court is satisfied with the cleanup efforts.

The court directed the university to file a fresh status report and ensure that the EVMs and ballot boxes for the DUSU elections are kept secure until further orders. Additionally, the court ordered Delhi University to bear the costs incurred by civic authorities like the MCD and Delhi Metro for the cleanup, which the university may later recover from the candidates involved.

The bench criticized the university's lack of action and oversight, suggesting a "lack of will and courage" as the core issue. The court listed the matter for further proceedings on October 21 and urged immediate resolution to uphold the institution's integrity and the students' right to a clean environment.

(With inputs from agencies.)