A PIL was filed in the Delhi High Court by Advocate Prashant Manchanda regarding the defacement that happens during the University of Delhi Student Elections. In response to this, the Joint Registrar of the Court, Reetesh Singh approved guidelines that mandate the prevention and penalization of any vandalism.
These guidelines were overseen by Adv. Prashant Manchanda, University of Delhi, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Police and the elected representatives of DUSU and mutually agreed thereupon. The ‘Draft Guidelines for the Code of conduct of Elections of DUSU’ mandate ‘College Committee for Prevention of Defacement of Property’ in every institute which will comprise of a senior faculty member and a Station House Officer. Further, at the University level, the guidelines mandate a permanent committee comprising of a senior faculty member nominated by the Vice-Chancellor, a police officer not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, and representatives of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation. Further, a sensitization programme is to be conducted based on the Guidelines, ensuring awareness of the penalties of committing any defacement.
With regards to penalization, the Guidelines mandate that any candidate must sign an undertaking to the Returning Officer/Election Officer agreeing to not endorse or commit any defacement of property. Any person who is found to contravene these guidelines can be subject to disqualification from contesting elections and in some cases, there may also be the cancellation of elections altogether. There is also a uniform vicarious liability imposed on the candidate, if his/her name is found to be spray-painted or graffitied on any property. A reading of the Guidelines shows that upon its proper implementation, significant change will be seen in the next DUSU elections.
Courtesy/By: Sharmishtha Bharde
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31 May 2018
