DUSU Elections: Delhi HC Bars Victory Processions, Issues Notice to 140 Candidates

September 18, 2026

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday barred candidates, students, supporters and others from taking out victory processions after the declaration of results in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, warning that any violation would invite criminal and administrative action and may also amount to contempt of court.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia also issued notices to all 140 candidates contesting the DUSU elections and student organisations, asking them to explain why they should not be saddled with exemplary electoral damages for alleged violations of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and judicial orders.

Delhi HC Bars Victory Processions After DUSU Results

The High Court directed that no victory procession would be taken out after the results are declared, either on the roads of Delhi or inside college campuses and hostels.

The Bench said it would be the responsibility of the Delhi Police to ensure that no such victory procession takes place. It warned that any violation would attract criminal and administrative action against the students and could also amount to contempt of court.

The court said the direction was being issued in view of its past experience and alleged repeated violations of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and its earlier orders during the DUSU election process.

The High Court further said it proposed to impose collective electoral damages not only on individual students found violating the norms but also on student organisations.

The Bench directed Delhi University counsel to provide the list of all 140 candidates contesting the DUSU elections so that notices could be issued to them.

998 Challans, Six FIRs and Four Arrests

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma informed the High Court about action taken by authorities in connection with violations during the election process.

The Centre’s law officer submitted that 998 challans had been issued, 30 vehicles impounded, one student rusticated, six FIRs registered and four students arrested.

Authorities had also issued 5,737 challans for defective vehicles and driving without licences, the court was informed.

The High Court directed the Delhi Police to ensure that criminal proceedings initiated against alleged violators were taken to their logical conclusion.

The Bench also questioned student organisations over the conduct of candidates and supporters during the campaign and observed that repeated violations of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations needed to be checked.

The court said the administrative action taken by Delhi University did not appear to be acting as a sufficient deterrent against students indulging in alleged hooliganism and other illegal activities.

Court Had Warned of Possible Stay on Counting

The latest directions came a day after the High Court warned that it could stay the counting of votes or declaration of results if it was not satisfied with the action taken by Delhi University and Delhi Police against persons allegedly involved in violence and violations of election guidelines.

On Thursday, the Bench made it clear that it was not staying or postponing polling scheduled for September 18, but warned that a harsher order could follow if the authorities failed to demonstrate effective action.

The court had observed that student unions were considered “nurseries of democracy”, but the election process could not be allowed to be accompanied by alleged violence and other unlawful activities.

The latest order was passed in proceedings arising from a petition filed by advocate Prashant Manchanda seeking enforcement of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, anti-defacement guidelines and the DUSU election code of conduct.

The petitioner had alleged incidents of violence, vandalism and entry of outsiders during campaigning. The High Court had directed Delhi University and Delhi Police to place on record the action taken against persons allegedly involved in such incidents.

In an earlier order passed in October 2024 concerning DUSU and college elections, the High Court had directed that counting of votes would not take place until it was satisfied that posters, graffiti, hoardings and spray paint had been removed, vandalised public property restored and losses caused by defacement made good by the erring candidates.

The court had also expressed its prima facie view that there had been extensive use of money and muscle power in DUSU and college elections in violation of the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines and directed authorities to ensure that further defacement of public property did not take place.

The Delhi High Court had observed that elections, which were supposed to be a festival of democracy, had been turned into a festival of money laundering and defacement of public property.