DU cancels ₹1 lakh bond requirement for student election contestants after HC hearing

Delhi University (DU) told the Delhi High Court on Friday that student contestants for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections do not have to deposit ₹1 lakh, as required under its August 8 notice.

On behalf of the university, advocate Rupal Mohinder moved in front of justice Mini Pushkarna that nominees would now have to pay only an affidavit and a security bond while submitting nominations.

The move was proposed by way of a petition challenging the varsity's August 8 notice calling for election candidates to produce a ₹1 lakh bond. The notice had been issued by the varsity to prevent vandalism around and inside the university, for the September 18 polls and to prevent the situation last year when university and public property were vandalized during the DUSU polls.

Observing DU's submission, the top court rejected a plea by two candidates, one of them Anjali, and Abhishek Kumar, both belonging to rural backgrounds, who argued that the provision was against their constitutional rights.

Their petition, filed by lawyer Raja Choudhary, argued that the condition was arbitrary and discriminatory under Article 14 because it effectively excluded rural and middle-class students from contesting. It also argued that the rule violated the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, which place joint liability for defacement, and exceeded the registrar's jurisdiction. "The impugned clause defeats the democratic essence of student unions, turning elections into an elitist forum, against judicial instructions for democratization," the petition further stated.

The elections had been conducted a year ago on September 27, 2024, but the vandalism on a large scale caused a lag of nearly two months in counting and declaration of the results following an order by the Delhi High Court to take down all graffiti and posters.

The August 8 notification had caused outrage as well, with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) submitting an earlier this month memorandum against the need for a ₹1 lakh bond. The organization demanded its withdrawal immediately and warned of a massive campus movement in case the provision was not withdrawn.