The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (September 16, 2026) rejected a challenge to the participation of candidates affiliated with student wings of political parties, like the NSUI and ABVP, in the upcoming Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.

A Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that while it was the duty of DU authorities and its chief election officer to ensure that the polls are free of any participation or interference of anyone associated with a political party, a student wing has to be “differentiated” from its political party.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the members of student wings of political parties cannot be permitted to contest DUSU polls, as participation of political parties was prohibited under the report of the Lyngdoh Committee, which was accepted by the Supreme Court and the Centre.

“What is prohibited is the association of political parties in the student election process. The student organisation which have made certain declarations …regarding affiliation of the candidates to be the organisation cannot be termed to be political parties,” the bench said.

“Merely because he (a candidate) is a member of the student wing of a political party, it would not amount to association with that political party. Therefore, it will not be in violation of the Lyngdoh Committee,” it added.

The DUSU elections are scheduled on September 18.

The Bench, however, cautioned against the participation and influence of political parties in the DUSU elections, and asked DU authorities to take note of a social media post by a candidate of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s student wing for allegedly displaying not only the name of the party but also its election symbol.

Such an activity needs to be checked by the authorities and the Chief Election Officer.

The petition, filed by a Delhi University student Vijeta, challenged the September 11 and August 13 notices by the Chief Election Officer announcing the DUSU polls and shortlisting the names of the contesting candidates.

Petitioner had emphasised in her plea that despite the Lyngdoh Committee recommending disassociation of student unions from political parties, the SFI-AISA alliance, the Aam Aadmi Party student wing, the National Students’ Union of India and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad have declared candidates for various DUSU posts including president and vice-president.

A public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Delhi High Court has alleged that political parties have fielded their candidates for various posts in the upcoming Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections in violation of the norms.

The PIL, filed by a Delhi University student Ms. Vijeta, contended 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 the Supreme Court and the Centre.

It has challenged the September 11 and August 13 notices by the Chief Election Officer announcing the DUSU polls and shortlisting the names of the contesting candidates. The case is likely to come up for hearing on Wednesday (September 16, 2026).

The plea emphasised that the Lyngdoh Committee has 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, the Aam Aadmi Party student wing, the National Students’ Union of India and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad have declared candidates for various DUSU posts including President and Vice-President, the plea said.

The petition prayed for directions to ensure that 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 the University of Delhi, 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 plea said.

“The unchecked political interference in student union elections has resulted in deterioration of the academic atmosphere within university campuses, thereby adversely affecting the fundamental rights of students guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India,” it added.

Delhi University is set to increase its hostel capacity by over 5,500 seats to 12,754 over the next five years, officials said on Thursday.

At present, there are 7,210 hostel seats for around 2.5 lakh university students. The announcement comes amid growing worries among outstation students regarding safe and affordable student housing following the Satya Niketan building collapse, which housed a PG facility. Several student groups, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), have held candlelight marches and protests since the September 6 tragedy over the absence of hostel accommodation.

According to official data, the university has 3,422 hostel seats while the capacity across affiliated colleges is 3,788.

Earlier this week, DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh asked college principals to review residential facilities for students and expedite work on under-construction hostels.

New hostels

The university has been working to expand hostel facilities over the past few years and is planning to submit proposals for several new projects to the government, it stated in a release on Thursday.
The statement added that an Institute of Eminence hostel with a capacity of 1,450 seats is nearing completion at the university’s Dhaka Complex.
Construction on a 1,000-seat women’s hostel, ‘Nirbhaya Residential Accommodation’, is also under way. A studio apartment complex with a capacity of 1,050 seats is among the other projects under construction, the university also said.

DUSU polls

Meanwhile, candidates for the September 18 DU Students’ Union (DUSU) polls filed nomination papers on Thursday.

As per the tentative list, there are 25 candidates for the president’s post, 20 for vice-president, 24 for secretary and 19 for joint secretary. Candidates have until 12 noon on Friday to withdraw their names, after which the final list will be published. The ABVP has identified seven probable candidates while the National Students’ Union of India plans to announce four candidates on Friday.

The All India Students’ Association (AISA) on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court against the Delhi University’s requirement for candidates to submit an indemnity affidavit and parental surety bond of ₹1 lakh to contest the university’s students’ union (DUSU) election scheduled for September 18.

The DUSU Election Committee has circulated an affidavit for 2026-27 elections, which requires the candidates to declare that their parents are aware that they are contesting the election. It also requires parents or guardians to stand as surety for payment of ₹1 lakh in case of any infringement or violation of guidelines, notifications, orders, or judgments. 

AISA activists Ananya Raturi and Akshat Shikhar have filed a petition in the Delhi High Court on Wednesday. AISA said in a statement, “Students who come to the university are autonomous adults who, if they so choose, can contest for office without the need of any consent from any authority whatsoever. The affidavit also very ignorantly assumes that it is only the parents who sponsor education for students.” 

The organisation alleged that the requirement could prevent women and those financially dependent on their families from contesting the polls.

DUSU Chief Election Officer, Raj Kishore Sharma said that the provision of ₹ 1 lakh bond was in place during the last year’s elections as well.

Last year, students had protested against the requirement of the bond, saying that it disqualifies candidates who might not have ₹1 lakh in their account. The university had issued a notification requiring an upfront monetary deposit or bond but later clarified that it was only an indemnity affidavit.

On Wednesday, Mr. Sharma said that the bond requires the signature of the candidate and details of guardians, adding that in case details of parents are not available, a candidate can provide the details of a friend, and students do not need ₹1 lakh in their account in order to contest.