DUSU Elections 2024: Delhi HC Allows Minority College Students to File Nominations
Delhi High Court allows students from minority colleges to participate in DUSU Elections 2024 despite disassociation! Find out how this decision impacts the upcoming election results.
The Delhi High Court has directed minority colleges affiliated with Delhi University (DU) to allow students to participate in the upcoming DUSU Elections 2024. The elections are scheduled for September 27, with results to be declared on September 28. This decision follows a petition by students from two DU colleges. It challenges the withdrawal of their colleges from the DUSU Elections 2024.
Key Developments
- Interim Relief: The Delhi High Court granted interim relief to two students—Rachit Rai and Utkarsh Bhatt. They are enrolled at Shri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College and Shri Guru Govind Singh College of Commerce. Both students had challenged the dissociation of their colleges from the elections. The court directed these minority institutions to allow the students to file nominations for DUSU Elections 2024.
- Court’s Direction: The court was led by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav. He issued a notice to the concerned colleges, requesting their response. It also instructed the respondents to allow petitioners and other interested students to submit their nominations. They are allowed to participate in the election process.
- Pending Pleadings: The court emphasized that the matter would be further considered. Once the pleadings from both sides were complete. The question of whether minority colleges can opt out of the DUSU Elections 2024 without following proper procedures. It remains unresolved. The next hearing is scheduled for September 23.
Background
- Disassociation of Colleges: These three minority colleges are:
- Shri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
- Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College
- Shri Guru Govind Singh College of Commerce
They had announced their decision to withdraw from DUSU Elections 2024. They cited their status as minority institutions protected under Article 30(1) of the Indian Constitution. It grants minority groups the right to establish and administer their educational institutions.
- Legal Challenge: The petitioners are Rachit Rai and Utkarsh Bhatt. They filed a petition through their advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha. They argued that their colleges had been part of DUSU elections in previous years. They should not be allowed to dissociate themselves from this year’s elections.
Court Proceedings
- Counsels’ Arguments: During the court hearing, the counsel for Delhi University argued their case. There is an established mechanism. It should be followed for colleges to dissociate themselves from the election process. However, the respondent colleges did not follow this process. The university had also rejected the communication from the colleges regarding their dissociation.
- Petitioners’ Stand: The petitioners’ counsel claimed. They said these colleges had participated in previous elections. The students were under the impression that they would be part of the DUSU Elections 2024 as well. The petitioners argued that the last date for filing nominations had already passed. The final day for withdrawing nominations was approaching. Therefore, they requested that interested students be allowed to file nominations.
- Colleges’ Stand: The respondent colleges argued according to the Lyngdoh Committee Report. They had the discretion to either participate in the election or adopt a nomination process. For the current year, they have chosen the latter. The colleges also pointed out that they had not been formally inducted into the election process. As per the guidelines of the Lyngdoh Committee.
What’s Next?
- Upcoming Hearing: The matter will be further discussed in the next court hearing on September 23. The court will examine whether minority colleges can opt out of the DUSU Elections 2024. This will be under the protections provided by Article 30(1) and whether due process was followed.
Election Schedule
- DUSU Elections 2024: The Delhi University Students Union elections are a major event in the university’s political calendar. The elections will take place on September 27, and the results will be announced the following day, September 28.
Points to Note:
- The Delhi High Court has granted the interim relief. This ensures that students from minority colleges will be allowed to participate in the DUSU Elections 2024. They will, until further orders.
- The court will review whether the minority colleges’ decision to withdraw was made under established procedures.
- The ruling has opened up the possibility for more students to participate in the elections. This adds significance to the upcoming hearing on September 23.
Conclusion
The decision by the Delhi High Court to allow students from minority colleges to file nominations for DUSU Elections 2024. It has brought relief to the petitioners. It also highlights the ongoing debate on whether minority colleges can legally opt out of elections. That also, without following proper protocols. The final decision will likely have an impact on future student elections at Delhi University.
The court has granted interim relief. With this, the court has ensured that interested students will not miss out on the opportunity to contest the elections. The outcome of the upcoming hearing will further clarify the legal standing. It will clarify the colleges’ disassociation from DUSU Elections 2024.
