The judiciary has taken a stern stance against the escalating violence and unruly incidents witnessed during the capital's prominent student body elections. Expressing deep concern over the clashes and rule violations during the campaign for the Delhi University Students Union, the Delhi High Court on Thursday stepped in firmly. The bench directed Delhi University, the Delhi Police, and the central government to submit a comprehensive status report by Friday. The court made it crystal clear that if it remains unsatisfied with the actions taken and the responses provided by the authorities, it will not hesitate to halt the vote counting and the formal declaration of election results.
Enough Is Enough: Democracy Cannot Be Turned Into a Criminal Society
Presiding over a petition concerning the violence and code violations during the campaign, the bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia remarked that enough was enough. The court observed that democracy cannot be permitted to morph into a criminal society under any circumstances. Highlighting that repeated instances of violence, blatant disregard for rules, and individuals taking the law into their own hands during student elections are matters of grave concern, the bench emphasized that such trends must be firmly curbed.
Deep Displeasure Over Assault on Teachers and Brandished Weapons
During the proceedings, the court specifically addressed incidents reported from the final leg of campaigning, expressing intense displeasure over complaints of teachers being manhandled and weapons being brandished openly. The bench asserted that if the university administration and local law enforcement are incapable of maintaining order and controlling the situation, serious questions are raised regarding their accountability. The court noted that multiple directives had previously been issued to student outfits, university authorities, and the police to ensure peaceful elections, yet violations and violent clashes continue to surface.
Status Reports Demanded From DU, Police, and Central Government
The high court's intervention has significantly heightened pressure on the administrative machinery. The court instructed Delhi University, the Delhi Police, and the central government to file their compliance and status reports by Friday. The submission must detail the specific actions taken against those who indulged in violence and flouted regulations during campaigning, alongside preventive measures implemented to thwart similar incidents in the future.
Voting to Proceed as Scheduled, But Results Hang in the Balance
Clarifying its immediate stance, the court stated that it has not stayed the polling process for now, meaning voting will proceed as scheduled on Friday, September 18. However, the bench issued a stern warning that if the authorities fail to satisfy the court with their reports and subsequent actions, orders will be issued to block the counting of votes and the announcement of results, which are expected on September 19. The court has scheduled the next hearing for Friday at 12 PM and directed representatives of various student organizations to be present. The bench warned that no excuses will be entertained during the next session. Notably, these judicial strictures arrive in the wake of violent clashes and scuffles reported across various university campuses on the final day of campaigning, which included incidents of baton-wielding and mistreatment of faculty members.
