DUSU Elections 2026: Delhi HC rejects plea against NSUI, ABVP students' participation in polls

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday rejected a challenge to the participation of candidates affiliated with student wings of political parties, like the NSUI and ABVP, in the upcoming Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections. A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that while it was the duty of DU authorities and its chief election officer to ensure that the polls are free of any participation or interference of anyone associated with a political party, a student wing has to be "differentiated" from its political party.

The petitioner's counsel argued that the members of student wings of political parties cannot be permitted to contest DUSU polls, as participation of political parties was prohibited under the report of the Lyngdoh Committee, which was accepted by the Supreme Court and the Centre. "What is prohibited is the association of political parties in the student election process.

The student organisation which have made certain declarations ...regarding affiliation of the candidates to be the organisation cannot be termed to be political parties," the bench said. "Merely because he (a candidate) is a member of the student wing of a political party, it would not amount to association with that political party. Therefore, it will not be in violation of the Lyngdoh Committee," it added. The DUSU elections are scheduled on September 18.

The court observed that the Lyngdoh report in no uncertain terms prohibits the participation of a person who is not a bona fide student and the association of the student elections with political parties -- a term that is defined in the Representation of the People Act. The bench cautioned against the participation and influence of political parties in the DUSU elections, and asked DU authorities to take note of a social media post by a candidate of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s student wing for allegedly displaying not only the name of the party but also its election symbol.

Delhi University counsel

Such an activity needs to be checked by the authorities and the Chief Election Officer. The court said it "expected" the chief election officer and other responsible authorities of DU to ensure that any interference from any person or member of a political party is duly checked and that the Code of Conduct, recommendations of Lyngdoh Committee, the law against defacement of public properties as well as the earlier orders passed by the high court on the issue are fully complied with. Any failure to implement such norms cannot be approved, the bench clarified.

The Delhi University counsel assured the court that it only accepted the candidature of its students and did not entertain any student organisation or political parties. The PIL, filed by a Delhi University student, challenged the September 11 and August 13 notices by the Chief Election Officer announcing the DUSU polls and shortlisting the names of the contesting candidates. The petitioner's counsel assailed the August 13 notice notifying the elections on the grounds that it did not contain the Code of Conduct, the Lyngdoh committee recommendations and other relevant governing norms. The court also refused to interfere with the notice, stating that all such publications were stated to be available on the website.

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Petitioner Vijeta had emphasised in her plea that despite the Lyngdoh Committee recommending disassociation of student unions from political parties, the SFI-AISA alliance, the Aam Aadmi Party student wing, the National Students' Union of India and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad have declared candidates for various DUSU posts including president and vice-president. "The petitioner, being a student of the University of Delhi, has witnessed how political parties are converting the academic environment of the university campus into a political atmosphere during student union elections in the universities and colleges. "The mutual harmony and academic discussions on the campuses of universities and colleges have been overtaken by political influence and discussions along political lines. Consequently, bitterness is making inroads among the students, which ultimately affects teaching and learning in the University," claimed the petition.

"The unchecked political interference in student union elections has resulted in deterioration of the academic atmosphere within university campuses, thereby adversely affecting the fundamental rights of students guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India," it added.