Delhi University Appeals High Court to Waive Rs 1 Crore Defacement Penalty

Delhi University seeks a High Court exemption from a Rs 1 crore penalty imposed for defacement during student elections. The court called upon election candidates for explanations. Both the ABVP and NSUI student bodies urged for a swift resolution to ensure vote counting and result announcements proceed smoothly.

Delhi University is petitioning the High Court to waive a Rs 1 crore penalty levied for the defacement of public property during their Student Union elections, an attempt revealed by a university official on Monday.

Previously, the High Court issued notices to several election candidates, demanding their presence at the next court session on October 28, after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) cited a Rs 1 crore cleanup expense. The court emphasized that DU could reclaim this from the candidates. Nonetheless, Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh highlighted the university's financial constraints, deeming it neither feasible for the university nor students to cover the fine.

ABVP and NSUI student bodies reacted to the development by urging a resolution to facilitate timely election result announcements. Meanwhile, the High Court maintained a hold on vote counting until defacement is addressed, requesting a follow-up report from MCD and Delhi Police.

(With inputs from agencies.)