Delhi High Court Intervenes in Violent DUSU Elections

The Delhi High Court intervened in the 2026-27 Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections after reports of widespread violence, vandalism, and violations of Lyngdoh Committee recommendations. The court criticized the University of Delhi and Delhi Police for an almost complete failure to maintain order, warning that democracy cannot be converted into a criminal society. Consequently, the court banned all victory processions on roads and campuses and issued show cause notices to 140 candidates.

Voting took place on September 18, with 1.5 lakh eligible students casting ballots via 1,000 electronic voting machines for the first time. The election saw a 40.46 percent turnout, the highest in three years. The contest primarily featured the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), and an AISA-SFI alliance. Key campaign issues included student safety and affordable housing, spurred by a building collapse in Satya Niketan that killed seven people.

Security was heavily reinforced for the process, with the Delhi Police deploying approximately 1,500 personnel across North Campus. Vote counting began on September 19 at the University Sports Stadium's Multipurpose Hall under the guard of 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel. While central results are pending, the ABVP claimed victories in several individual college polls, including Shri Ram College of Commerce and Ramjas College. Meanwhile, the BJP accused the NSUI of electoral malpractice involving fake ID cards.