New Delhi: Lamenting the display of “money and muscle power” in the ongoing DUSU election campaign, Delhi High Court on Monday warned that the violations of rules would amount to contempt of court.“If required, we will countermand your elections; we will act stricter than before. People are travelling on JCBs, tractors and luxury vehicles. Money and muscle power are the last things that should be flowing in the students’ union elections. Something has to be done about this display. This just cannot creep into student politics. If there are still infractions or violations, it has to be taken to its logical end,” a bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela warned.It pointed out that office-bearers of student organisations also needed to sensitise the candidates and “requested” the candidates and their supporters not to indulge in any kind of violation. The polling to elect the office-bearers of Delhi University Students’ Union is due on Sept 18. In 2024, noting the defacement done by the candidates and their supporters, the court halted the results until all such materials — posters, hoardings and graffiti — were removed and public properties were restored.The bench said students must pay heed to the orders of the court and the concerns of the “entire populace of Delhi”. The court told the NSUI and ABVP counsels, “You have made it difficult for a common man to even breathe in the city.” It underlined that candidates needed to be responsible citizens. “We may only issue a word of caution that any violation shall be viewed seriously and shall be treated as contempt of court.”The court was hearing a plea by advocate Prashant Manchanda, who raised concerns over the violation of guidelines and rules to ensure that the DUSU elections were held in an orderly manner. After examining the photos and videos, the bench prima facie found several violations during the campaign. HC said it would take up the matter again on Tuesday and expected Delhi Police and Delhi University to inform it of the steps taken. It is also likely to hear the students’ organisations about the measures taken by them.The police counsel submitted that 695 challans had been issued, and several cars and two-wheelers prosecuted for issuing advertisements and dangerous driving. DU’s lawyer claimed the varsity was vigilant. “Why do you need a court’s order to act and take action on what’s happening? Everybody is satisfied except the judges, it appears… It is only the court which is not satisfied. So we are the villain here,” the judges said.The court pointed out that the same students who had apologised last year over a similar issue were again indulging in defacement and traffic violations.
