NEW DELHI
As the All India Students’ Association (AISA) once again approached the Delhi High Court over the clause mandating a ₹1-lakh surety with parental or guardian signature for contesting the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, university officials on Thursday described it as a “technical requirement” in line with the High Court’s suggestions.
At a press conference, Chief Election Officer Raj Kishore Sharma said the clause was being misinterpreted. He clarified that the amount would be forfeited only if a student violated anti-defacement guidelines. “Earlier, the court had made it clear that no deposit amount was needed, but the university should take a surety of ₹1 lakh,” he said.
“Students are worried about who will pay the amount if they don’t have ₹1 lakh in their account. But there is no cause for worry as it is only a technical requirement,” Mr. Sharma added.
Students’ objection
Student organisations have called the provision an attack on student autonomy. AISA activists said they had filed a writ petition and were awaiting a hearing. Officials declined to comment, saying the matter was sub judice.
Last year, the High Court halted campaigning for two months due to rampant defacement. This year, the university has issued strict rules banning printed campaign material, vehicles, and loudspeakers.
The university announced on Tuesday that parents’ signatures would be required to ensure repayment if a student defaults. Mr. Sharma said that if parents were unavailable, students could get friends or relatives to sign instead.
Despite the controversy, officials said compliance had improved with the varsity campus, unlike in the past, free from defacement this year. “We are encouraging social media campaigns and trying to curb the use of vehicles,” Mr. Sharma said.
The university has also launched a portal to register complaints from students or citizens. So far, officials said, no complaints have been received.
Published – September 05, 2025 01:13 am IST
