‘No victory procession in Capital’:Delhi HC directs candidates ahead of DUSU polls

In its order, the court stated, “A common concern has been expressed that after counting is over winning candidate take out victory procession, which as per past experience, becomes very difficult to handle by police and university authorities…We thus direct no victory processions in campus, hostels or in any other area of Delhi shall be taken out.”

Taking note of the “large-scale violations,” evidenced by the huge number of challans issued by the police for traffic breaches, damage to public property, and defacement—along with “scores of notices and warnings” issued to erring students and candidates by DU—the bench remarked that the violations “still haven’t abated.”

The court went on to orally ask DU’s counsel, “Should we stay the elections? …We have no problem or hesitation in doing it.”

The bench further remarked, “Counting may take place, but we will stop the functioning of the office bearers if the election is not held in a peaceful and orderly manner.”

DU’s counsel, while requesting that the elections not be stayed, urged the court to direct that no victory processions be allowed.

Last year, during the DUSU polls, the Delhi HC had stayed the counting of votes for over a month due to widespread defacement and poll code violations. The stay was lifted only after the court was satisfied that the defacement had been remedied by the erring students and candidates.

The court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on September 19.