DUSU Chaos: Delhi HC Threatens Collective Fines, Bans Victory Rallies Amid 'Hooliganism' Surge

The Delhi High Court today threw down the gauntlet, issuing show-cause notices to all 140 Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) election candidates and major student organizations, including ABVP and NSUI, demanding explanations for why 'collective electoral damages' shouldn't be imposed following widespread campaign violence. In a decisive move, a bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia also outright banned all victory processions and celebratory drumming after tomorrow's vote count, explicitly stating that any violation would lead to criminal action and even contempt of court. The court's stern remarks highlighted what it called 'hooliganism', questioning how individuals brandishing weapons or parading in luxury cars without proper plates could be considered students. This judicial crackdown comes after days of escalating chaos, with allegations of vandalism, physical clashes, and serious violations of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations that govern student polls. The court expressed deep frustration, noting that past warnings and actions by Delhi University and Delhi Police have failed to deter repeated misconduct, even citing a shocking incident from a previous election where a winning candidate allegedly slapped a teacher. Advocate Prashant Manchanda plea brought these ongoing violations to the court's attention, detailing instances of outsiders entering campuses and disrupting peace. Delhi Police has already reported issuing nearly a thousand challans, impounding dozens of vehicles, and arresting four students in connection with the campaign excesses. Looking ahead, all eyes are on the student organizations and candidates as they prepare their responses to the show-cause notices, with the court set to hear the matter again on November 6. The unprecedented ban on victory celebrations, enforced by Delhi Police, signals a zero-tolerance approach, aiming to send a clear message that student democracy cannot devolve into a 'criminal society'. This decisive intervention could reshape the culture of student politics in Delhi, forcing greater accountability and a move away from the 'money and muscle power' that has often marred these high-stakes elections.