Delhi High Court - Orders
Prashant Manchanda vs Union Of India & Ors on 19 September, 2025
Author: Tushar Rao Gedela
Bench: Tushar Rao Gedela
$~41
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ W.P.(C) 7824/2017
PRASHANT MANCHANDA .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Angad Singh and Ms. Nancy Shah,
Mr. Rohan Pratap Singh with Petitioner
in person
versus
UNION OF INDIA & ORS .....Respondents
Through: Mr. Chetan Sharma, ASG with Ms.
Syed Abdul Haseeb, CGSC, Mr. Amit
Gupta, SPC, Mr. Tabish Zia, Mr.
Tanveer Zaki, Mr. V. Singh, Mr.
Naman, Mr. Babar Waseem, Advs. for
UOI with Mr. D. S. Oberoi, SHO,
Maurice Nagar and Mr. Yashpal Bhati,
Insp. Delhi Traffic Police.
Mr.Mohinder J. S. Rupal, Mr.Hardik
Rupal, Ms.Aishwarya Malhotra and
Mr.Vibhu Sharma, Advs for DU.
Mr.Pushkar Sood, SPC for DMRC with
Mr.Samarth Sood, Adv.
Mr.Sanjeev Sabharwal, SC for R-3.
M.Rohit Yadav, Mr.Deepak Sharma,
Mr.Kuldeep Kasana, Mr.Kartik
YAdav, Mr.Nitin Yadav and Mr.Talib
Khan, Advs for R-7.
Mr. Sanjoy Poddar, Sr. Adv. with Mr.
Govind Kumar, Mr. Adhitya Srivasan,
Ms. Megha Saxena, Mr. Vedansh
Anand, Mr. Aditya Kashyap, Mr.
Shivam Kumar, Mr. Rishi Raj Singh,
Mr. Shubham Shukla, Advs. for R-
8/ABVP
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CORAM:
HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TUSHAR RAO GEDELA
ORDER
% 19.09.2025 CM APPL. 57208/2025(For directions)
1. Mr. Mohinder Rupal, learned counsel representing Delhi University has filed an affidavit sworn in by the Chief Election Officer, DUSU Elections 2025-2026, which is taken on record. In the said affidavit details of various steps taken by the University authorities at their end have been given, which inter aliainclude issuance of show cause notices ('SCN') for violations. It has been stated by Mr. Rupal that as many as 7 students who contested the elections were also issued notices, however in the reply they have denied the allegations in the SCNs.
2. Mr.Abdul Haseeb, learned Central Government Standing Counsel, has filed a Status Report on behalf of the Delhi Police along with some other documents in a sealed cover, indicating therein the steps taken by the Delhi Police as also by the Traffic Department. As per the said Status Report from 01.08.2025 to 16.08.2025, as many as 5158 challans were issued against traffic violators, which include violations relating to advertisement, defective number plates, disobedience of lawful directions, riders without helmet, improper parking, dangerous driving, driving without license, violations of Registration Certificate, vehicles found with tainted glasses, no-entry violations, vehicles without insurance and pollution certificate, etc.The said Status Report also mentions that between 17.09.2025 to 19.09.2025 (10:00 AM) as many as 386 challans were issued against traffic violators.
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3. The petitioner in person has also filed a bunch of photographs which are taken on record.
4. Learned counsel representing respondent no.8 has also filed certain photographs and has asserted, based on the said photographs, that students themselves had undertaken to clean the streets which were earlier full of litter. The said bunch of photographs is also taken on record.
5. Learned counsel representing respondent no.7 has filed a circular dated 17.09.2025, which was issued for ensuring compliance of order of the Court passed on the said date, i.e. 17.09.2025. The said circular is also taken on record.
6. We have been informed that counting of votes was held today, and result whereof, has also been declared. A notification declaring the result has also been issued. The said notification dated 19.09.2025, is also taken on record.
7. Elections of the Students' Union, be it the Students' Union of Delhi University or other affiliated colleges, is a yearly feature. Over the years the shape which these elections have taken has been a cause of concern for every responsible institution and citizen of Delhi. As far back as in the year 2006, a committee constituted under the orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, known as the 'Lyngdoh Committee', submitted its report recommending various steps to be taken for effecting reforms in the elections of the Students' Union. The said recommendations made by the Lyngdoh Committee were approved by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, and thus, after such approval, it has force of law which is to be respected, implemented and followed by all concerned, including the students. Apart from the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee, Delhi University has framed certain regulatory measures to This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/09/2025 at 23:45:11 ensure that elections of the Students' Union take place in an orderly and peaceful manner.
8. The issues which are engaging our attention today had cropped up before the Court during these elections in the year 2024, which resulted in passing of a detailed order dated 11.11.2024. The proceedings of the application under which the said order was passed by the Court were closed, however, only after noticing that the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University had accepted the DUSU Elections Reforms Committee's Report. The Court also noted the assurance made on behalf of Delhi University through its Counsel that henceforth, non-observance of the Court ordersand Lyngdoh Committee recommendations by concerned students and officials shall be dealt with strictly. The Court also took on record the affidavits of undertaking filed by certain candidates who were contestants in the earlier elections. A statement was also noticed by the Court made by learned counsel appearing for the students, to whom notices were issued that they shall get all sites cleaned and re-painted within a week.
9. Having regard to the fact that the matter concerned the conduct of young students, the Court expressed its view that they deserve a second chance. Further,the observation made by the Court was that the intent of the proceedings was to reform and not to punish the young and impressionable minds. The Court further observed that the intent of the proceedings was that students and candidates understand that the University and public property belong to public at large which these students, in particular, hold in trust and enjoy/use for a limited period. The Court further expressed its hope and trust that the student community at large and the candidates who even plan to contest the elections in future have received a clear message that the public This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/09/2025 at 23:45:11 and University infrastructure should be kept clean and not defaced and harmed in any manner. Paragraphs 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are apposite to be extracted hereunder which read as follows:-
"6. It is further averred in the status report that the University of Delhi vide notification dated 30th October, 2024 has constituted „DUSU Election Reforms Committee‟, which Committee has submitted its report dated 8th November, 2024. Mr. Rupal, learned counsel for Delhi University states that the said report has been accepted in principle by the Vice-Chancellor. Some of the suggestions/reforms suggested by DUSU Election Reforms Committee are reproduced herein below:-
"Some of the suggestions for reforms are provided below:
1. All the guidelines/rules/Orders of the Court/Act/ Ordinance mentioned above are to be made strictly applicable.
2. Orientation/Sensitization of students at the time of admission relating to provisions of discipline, maintaining the sanctity of College walls and public property and good conduct during elections must be organized and video footage of these events must be kept for record in the College and also be uploaded on the website of the University/College.
3. For prevention of defacement of walls, size of Walls of Democracy may be increased in every College/ Department/Campus of the University. According to NGT Order in Nithin Chandran v. Union of India & Ors (2016), two notified places may be made available for the hand-made posters in every College/Department/University. In Prashant Manchanda v. Union of India (2018), the High Court of Delhi had issued guideline to designate one Wall of Democracy for the DUSU and another for the College/ Department/Centre/Institute.
4. Like anti-ragging affidavit, an anti-defacement of walls affidavit be taken from the students at the time of admission.
5. A bond has to be executed at the time of filing nomination paper to contest any post of office-bearer of College Union/DUSU for Rs. 1 lakh by the student for the act of any defacement during the course of study/election.
6. In the name of welcoming students or for membership drive by This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/09/2025 at 23:45:11 the students, no poster/banner should be used, except on the Walls of Democracy. However, electronic media can be used for the purpose of any campaign. If the student, whose name appears on a poster defacing College/ Department/ Centre/Institute premises without his/her knowledge, does not remove it within 3 days, or if he/she thinks that the poster is pasted on any College /public/ private property by someone else without his/her knowledge and he/she does not file a complaint in a police station with proof of his/her identity and does not send a copy of the same to the College/University authority, the student may be liable to pay fine Rs 25,000/- or as decided by the University/College or suspension from college/ Department/Centre/Institute, rustication from college/ Department/Centre/Institute for a specified period, expulsion from the College, and may also be debarred from contesting election according to the relevant rules of the University/other applicable laws.
7. A dedicated portal relating to defacement issues shall be created at the University/College level to sensitize the students and to enable the students to know about their rights and duties. On that portal, a concerned student may also On that portal, a concerned student may alsoreport violation of NGT Guidelines, Lyngdoh Committee Guidelines, Prashant Manchanda Guidelines, and Nithin Chandran Guidelines.
8. In Prashant Manchanda v. Union of India (2018) case, the High Court of Delhi had issued guideline to constitute a 'College Committee for Prevention of Defacement of Property' at the College level and a similar Committee at the University level to be called 'University Committee for Prevention of Defacement of Property'. This Committee should be constituted on the first day of the new academic session of the year. Defacement Committee of the University/College shall remain functional round the year. The names and contact numbers of the members of the Committee shall be prominently displayed on the notice board of the University/College. A separate section in this regard be provided for on the website of the University/College. Any changes in the Constitution of these committees be notified on the notice board of the University/ College and website, as and when effected.
9. Practice of resorting to spelling errors in the name of candidates, like an extra letter, is punishable by the Prevention of Defacement Committee as well as by the Election Committee. If the student whose misspelt name appears on a poster defacing This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/09/2025 at 23:45:11 College/department/public/ private property does not remove it within 3 days, or if he/she thinks that the poster is pasted on any College/ Department/public/private property by someone else and he/she does not file a complaint in a police station enclosing proof of his/her identity, and also does not inform the University/College Committee for Prevention of Defacement, the defacement will be imputed to the student whose name appears in the poster/graffiti etc. In such case, the student may be liable to pay fine Rs 25,000/- or as decided by the University/College or be suspended from the College/ department, or be rusticated from the College/ department for a specified period and may also be debarred from contesting election according to the relevant rules of the University/other applicable laws.
The name mentioned in the Secondary and Senior Secondary certificates should be considered for all purposes. Any change in the name of a student after taking admission in the Colleges/ Departments/Centre/ Institute will not be entertained for the purpose of contesting election unless the student has changed his/her name after following the due process as per the rules of the University.
10. After the final list of candidates notified by the Election Committee, if the student, whose name appears on a poster defacing a wall without his/her knowledge, does not remove it within 3 days, or if he/she thinks that the poster is pasted on any College/Department/University/ public/private property by someone else and he/she does not file a complaint before a police station enclosing proof of his/her identity, and also does not send a copy of the same to the University/College Committee for Prevention of Defacement, the defacement will be imputed on the student whose name appears in the poster/graffiti etc. In such case, the student may be liable to pay fine Rs 25,000/- or as decided by the University/College or suspension from college, rustication from college for a specified period, and may also be debarred from contesting election according to the relevant rules of the University/other applicable laws.
11. College Principals/ Heads/ Deans/ Professor-in-Charges have to remain more vigilant about the student Union elections, about formation of Prevention of Defacement Committee at the start of each academic session and to sensitize the students about defacement of college/ community premises. They may also be made accountable in case of non-compliance of Lyngdoh Committee Guidelines, NGT Orders, Delhi High Court orders.
This is a digitally signed order.
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12. Act of Defacement/Damage to public property should amount to gross indiscipline and consequent punishment provisions in the relevant Ordinance of the DU Act, and DUSU Constitution need to be incorporated.
13. Canvassing by the students through posters, rallies, road- shows and Shakti Pradarshan, loud-speakers, vehicles are prohibited and an awareness campaign in this regard must be launched at the beginning of the academic year in all Colleges/department/Institutes/Centers.
14. Meeting/s related to election called by the Election Committee of the College/ University with a notice of at-least 24 Hours must be attended by the student, aspirants/ Candidates of any DUSU/College Union post as and when called. If the meeting is not attended by the candidates without assigning any genuine reason, the candidature is liable to be cancelled by the Election Committee.
15. Since the initiation of election process and till its completion, the Election Committee constituted by the University/ College shall be responsible for strict adherence to Lyngdoh Committee Guidelines, NGT Orders, High Court of Delhi orders, and the Statutes/ Ordinances of the University.
16. Colleges/Departments/Centre/Institute should organize the presidential debates after commencement of the DUSU/ College Election. The candidates contesting the DUSU/ College elections should be encouraged to participate in the Preside Presidential debate/ speech and may get it uploaded on the website of the College/Institute/ Centre/ University.
17. Booking of rooms in University Guest Houses/University maintained hostels for the personal/official uses of the DUSU office-bearers is not permitted. DUSU office-bearers are permitted to book only three venues, namely, Conference Centre, Shankar Lal Hall, Room No. 22 of Arts Faculty for their official program with due justification and duly recommended by the DUSU Advisor.
18. University should write to all the canteens/guest houses/ hostel canteens that if any DUSU office-bearer avails any undue benefit by misusing of power, it should be immediately reported to the Proctor. The Proctor, after perusal and inquiry, may debar such office-bearer to enter any canteen of the This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/09/2025 at 23:45:11 University/College/department during his/her remaining term.
19. Biometric/Facial Recognition machine shall be installed for the attendance and for the entry of students to the premises of the College/ Department/ University. Outsiders are not allowed in the premises of any College/ Department/Centre/Institute.
20. Dhols, Loudspeakers are not allowed in the open/closed premises of a College/ Department/ Institute/ Centre. This rule is applicable even after the declaration of election results.
21. Six women's colleges of the University of the total 43 colleges are affiliated to the DUSU elections. The female students in the remaining colleges form almost half of the total strength. In each DUSU election held in the last 20 years, at least one female candidate has been elected, except in one election (Annexure attached). To improve the gender parity in the electoral process, the University may adopt women's reservation on a rotational basis for one post of an Office-bearer.
22. A proposal regarding the change in the current pattern of DUSU elections is also hereby proposed to prevent defacement and the use of muscle and money power at the University level. This proposal may be sent to all different stakeholders (College Unions, DUSU, College Principals/ Heads of the Department/In- charge of the Centers/Head-Director of the Institutions) of the University for further debate and discussion and for possible adoption of this model in future. Following is the proposal:
"Centralized single tier DUSU election may be replaced by two tier DUSU elections whereby the Colleges/ Departments/ Centre/ Institutes may hold elections at their own level and the President of the college Union/Department Union/ Centre Union as well as the Central Councilors may be allowed to take part in Tier II election in which the DUSU office bearers may be elected (This was one of the Lyngdoh Recommendations in Clause 6.2.4.)."
A similar model is followed in the Internal Complaints Committee elections of the University."
7. This Court has also been assured by Mr.Rupal, learned counsel for the Delhi University that henceforth non-observance of Guidelines of this Court and Lyngdoh Committee, by concerned students or officials shall be dealt with strictly.
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8. Affidavits of undertaking have also been filed by candidates, namely, Mr.Bhanu Pratap Singh, Mr.Aman Kapasiya, Mr.Yashh Nandal, Mr.Rishabh Chaudhary, S/o Mr.Satish Chaudhary (ABVP), Mr.Lokesh Chaudhary, Ms.Mitravinda Karanwal, Mr.Yash Panwar, Mr.Rishabh Chaudhary, S/o Mr.Pramendra Singh (NSUI) and Mr.Raunak Khatri. The said candidates have also taken steps to clean and restore the campus by organizing and participating in cleaning drives to remove graffiti, posters, hoardings, banners and other forms of defacement.
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11. Since the students studying in Delhi University are young, this Court is of the view that they deserve a second chance. After all, the intent of the present proceeding is to reform and not punish the young and impressionable minds. In fact, the intent of the present proceedings is to ensure that the students and candidates understand that the University and public property belongs to public at large which these students, in particular, candidates who contest DUSU Elections hold in trust and enjoy/use for a limited period of time. It is the responsibility of the current batch of students to ensure that the next batch of students get to use the University and public infrastructure in good and clean condition.
12. Consequently, this Court accepts the undertaking given by learned counsel for the students, who have defaced public property and direct the University of Delhi to verify compliance with the said undertaking and file a status report along with report from the candidates within ten days with the Registry of this Court.
13. This Court hopes and trusts that the student community at large and the candidates who have contested this election as well as those students who plan to contest the elections in the future have received a clear message that the public and University infrastructure should be kept clean and not defaced or harmed in any manner."
10. On initiation of the proceedings of the present application, various facts were brought to the notice of the Court relating to the violations of the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee, those of provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, the provisions of the Conduct Rules for DUSU Elections 2025, as also the guidelines issued by Delhi University.
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11. Taking cognizance of the material available before the Court, we issued directions from time to time only to ensure that elections are held in accordance with law and without any violation of the regulatory measures/guidelines/rules, however, it appears that the students have not learnt the lesson from the order passed during the last elections, i.e. on 11.11.2024, except that this year incidents of defacement of public property are said to have gone slightly down.
12. Vide our order dated 17.09.2025, we had directed that no victory procession shall be taken out. However, along with the bunch of photographs filed by the petitioner has been enclosed two news items, one published by the news channel Dilli AajTak and other published by ETV Bharat Delhi, where it has been reported that despite the order of the Court for abiding by the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee, the same have been violated.
13. In the aforesaid circumstances, we order as under:-
(i) Let the students who were the candidates and were issued notices by the Delhi University be impleaded as party respondents, whose names and details are as follows:-
President Sr. No Name Contact No Email Address
1. Aryan Maan 7027111111 [email protected] S/o Sikandar Maan 23/42 West Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi-110026
2. Joslyn Choudhary 9352009658 [email protected] D/o Kana Ram Choudhary, Rameshwar Dham, Pal Village, Jodhpur, Rajasthan-
342001 This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 22/09/2025 at 23:45:11 Vice-President Sr. No Name Contact No Email Address
1. Govind Tanwar 9953569292 [email protected] S/o Raj Kumar Ramgarh Village, Sector A-
67, Gurugaon, Harayana
2. Rahul Jhansla 9785383939 [email protected] S/o Veerendra Singh Yadav Village Dahmi, Post Kankardopa, Tehsil Behrar, Alwar Rajasthan 301701 Secretary Sr. No Name Contact No Email Address
1. Kabir 9999944999 [email protected] S/o Kulbir Singh, W2-3, Nangli Jalib, Janak Puri B-1, S.O West Delhi 110058
2. Kunal Choudhary 9577777957 [email protected] S/o Ranbir Singh 57, Khaizrabad Village, New Friends Colony, South west Delhi, Delhi 110025 Joint-Secretary Sr. No Name Contact No Email Address
1. Deepika Jha 9560117461 [email protected] D/o Balram Jha Plot No 9, KH No 73/3, Street No 4, Opposite Pragati Farm House, BLK-A Kaushik Enclave:VTC, Burari, Delhi 110084
(ii) We also direct that Dilli AajTak and ETV Bharat Delhi be also impleaded as party respondents in this petition.
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(iii) The petitioner shall furnish an amended memo of parties within a week.
(iv) Issue notice to newly impleaded respondent-news channels and respondent-Candidates(details of whom are mentioned in the abovesaid table), returnable on 06.11.2025.
(v) The news channels which have been impleaded under our order today are directed to furnish the video footages regarding the coverage of the Delhi University Elections made by their respective correspondents from 10.09.2025 till 19.09.2025 in electronic form (pen drive). We also direct that these news channels shall preserve the video footage of the news concerning the Delhi University Elections during this period.
DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ TUSHAR RAO GEDELA, J SEPTEMBER 19, 2025/MJ This is a digitally signed order.
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