The Delhi High Court on Friday banned victory processions after the declaration of Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) election results, directing the Delhi Police to ensure that no such procession is held on roads, inside colleges or hostels.
The court warned that any violation would invite criminal and administrative action against the erring students and amount to contempt of court.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia passed the direction while expressing concern over repeated violations of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and alleged incidents of hooliganism in and around the University campus during the DUSU elections.
The Bench observed that the actions taken by Delhi University and the police had “not been working as deterrent” and said there could be no doubt that violations of the Lyngdoh norms were recurring.
Collective damages
The court also proposed imposing “collective electoral damages” on individual students found violating the norms as well as student organisations, and directed that notices be issued to all student organisations along with their candidates. Around 140 candidates are contesting the DUSU elections, the court was informed.
The Bench also directed the petitioner to compile, within two weeks, a report of students who may have violated the election norms.
The observations came as the court questioned the authorities over alleged unruly conduct by students, including cavalcades of vehicles and an incident in which a student was allegedly involved in assaulting a teacher after winning an election.
“Just see, a student after winning an election is slapping a teacher. Who could imagine all this?” the court remarked.
The court particularly questioned how vehicles without registration plates were allowed to ply on Delhi roads and asked the police about a reported cavalcade of around 20 cars.
“How was it allowed? A huge cavalcade of 20 cars. Was it not part of your duty that no vehicle ply on roads of Delhi without registration number?” the Bench asked.
The court said such cavalcades and processions “create a sense of terror, fear” and a sense of “hegemony” being established by candidates. “Standing on the roof and bonnet of the cars, what else is hooliganism?” the Bench remarked.
Police action
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, appearing for the Delhi Police, told the court that 998 challans had been issued, 30 cars impounded, six FIRs registered and four students arrested. One student had also been rusticated, he said.
The court then sought details of an alleged assault on a teacher. Mr. Sharma said the accused had been arrested.
When asked whether the accused was a student or an outsider, Mr. Sharma said the person was a student and that three other students had also been arrested in connection with the incident.
The Bench questioned Delhi University on the action taken against the students. The University said show-cause notices had been issued to them. The court said the criminal action initiated by the police should be taken to its logical conclusion.
It also said administrative action by Delhi University and the Delhi Police did not appear to be acting as a sufficient deterrent to students allegedly indulging in hooliganism and other activities amounting to offences.
The Bench further said police officials should not feel “shy or constrained” from taking action merely because those involved were students. “Somebody brandishing weapons, can be termed as a student?” the court asked.
Victory processions barred
With polling for the DUSU election underway on Friday and counting scheduled to conclude by Saturday, the Bench directed that no victory procession be taken out after the results are declared.
The direction applies to candidates, their supporters, students and any other persons, and covers roads as well as university campuses and hostels.
The court also questioned the source of money being spent on luxury vehicles used in cavalcades, asking, “Roaming around in a cavalcade of luxury cars, where do they get these money from?”
The court was considering a plea by advocate Prashant Manchanda, seeking effective implementation of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, anti-defacement norms and the code of conduct governing DUSU elections.
His plea flagged alleged instances of violence, vandalism and clashes during the ongoing election campaign, involving candidates, their supporters and outsiders.
Published – September 19, 2026 12:33 am IST
