DUSU polls: HC directs chief election officer to preserve EVMs as NSUI alleges foul play

Congress’s student wing NSUI is seeking quashing of the election process and a declaration that the September 18 polling was vitiated on account of EVM tampering, “which were found to be marked in a manner favouring a particular candidate”.

According to NSUI leaders, the EVMs had been deliberately tampered with, with blue ink markings against the name of ABVP presidential candidate Maan, “to influence voters”.

It has also been submitted that the irregularities were “specifically witnessed and reported” at Hansraj College, Kirori Mal College, and the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, and similar complaints were “also emanated from several other colleges and departments across the University campus, as reported by various students”.

Reporting of such incidents to returning officers, teachers on election duty and other authorities has yielded no response, according to the petitioners.

The court of Justice Mini Pushkarna posted the matter next for December 16 after it issued notice to DU and directed the chief election officer to preserve the EVMs along with the paper trail.

The petitioners have also alleged that the conduct of the election officers, university officials, and several teachers deputed on election duty further reveals collusion and complicity, as they acted in a manner suggesting that they were “hand in glove” with the ABVP’s presidential candidate.