Delhi High Court Criticizes Poster Campaigns In Delhi University Elections

The Delhi High Court has expressed strong disapproval of the extensive use of posters and banners during the Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) elections, labeling it a distortion of democracy. The court remarked that the elections should be a celebration of democratic values rather than a display of financial excess, suggesting that the current situation is even more concerning than that of general elections.

During a recent hearing, the court raised questions about the significant funds being spent on these campaigns, indicating that “crores of rupees” might be involved. The High Court referenced recommendations from the Lingdoh Committee, which prohibits the use of printed materials for campaigning, yet noted the prevalence of such posters on campus walls and various locations.

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The court emphasized that financial resources should not be squandered in this manner and urged for strict action to be taken against those violating the rules. In response, Delhi University informed the court that show cause notices had been issued to 21 candidates, and the court has set a deadline of September 26 for the university to report on the actions taken.

During the proceedings, the court inquired whether there were photographic records of the posters affixed to public property, suggesting that candidates should be responsible for the costs associated with their removal. So far, more than 16,000 boards and 2,000 hoardings, alongside over 200,000 posters, have been taken down during the ongoing DUSU elections.

Additionally, the Chief Electoral Officer for the DUSU elections 2024-25 has issued a directive requiring all candidates to remove their campaign materials from the university campus within 24 hours.

This issue of rule violations in Delhi University elections is not new; in 2017, the National Green Tribunal ordered the university to penalize students for defacing walls with posters. Despite previous interventions, the use of election-related posters continues to be a significant problem each year.