New Delhi: Delhi High Court is likely to examine Wednesday a PIL alleging violation of norms in the upcoming DUSU elections.Filed by a DU student, the plea has challenged the Sept 11 and Aug 13 notices by the chief election officer announcing the DUSU polls and shortlisting the names of the candidates, contending that members of student wings of political parties cannot be permitted to contest DUSU polls, as such participation is prohibited under the Lyngdoh Committee Report, which was accepted by Supreme Court and Centre.The matter was mentioned Tuesday before a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia for an urgent hearing. The bench permitted the petition to be listed Wednesday.The plea emphasised that the Lyngdoh Committee cautioned against the influence of political parties in student union elections and, therefore, recommended disassociation of student unions from political parties.However, the SFI-AISA alliance, Aam Aadmi Party’s student wing, National Students’ Union of India and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad have declared candidates for various DUSU posts, including president and vice-president, it said, urging court intervention.The petition urged directions to ensure the DUSU elections are conducted in conformity with the binding judicial directions and the regulatory framework to safeguard fairness, transparency and legality of the election process.“The petitioner, being a student of DU, has witnessed how political parties are converting the academic environment of the university campus into a political atmosphere during student union elections in the universities and colleges… The mutual harmony and academic discussions on the campuses of universities and colleges have been overtaken by political influence and discussions along political lines. Consequently, bitterness is making inroads among the students, which ultimately affects teaching and learning in the university,” the plea stated.
