DUSU polls: Printed pamphlets, vehicle rallies put Lyngdoh rules to test

The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections on Friday saw campaign activities that appeared to violate several rules governing student polls, with printed pamphlets scattered around North Campus, vehicle rallies and the distribution of campaign materials around South Campus.

Around North Campus, printed pamphlets bearing candidates’ names were scattered on roads and footpaths. People travelling in vehicles threw pamphlets, particularly around Chhatra Marg and near colleges such as Kirori Mal and Hansraj, while students on motorcycles distributed candidate cards as they moved between colleges.

In South Campus, SUVs and other vehicles moved around university roads as students campaigned for candidates.

The campaigning and the run-up to the election have come under the spotlight again as the Delhi High Court on Friday took note of repeated violations of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations during the DUSU elections and proposed imposing collective electoral damages on students and student organisations found violating the norms.

“Having noted frequent violations on the part of the students, candidates and student organisations, we propose to impose collective damages not only on the students found violating the norms but also the student organisations,” the bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said.

The court also barred victory processions after the declaration of results and warned of further action for violations.

The Lyngdoh Committee recommendations prohibit candidates from using printed posters, pamphlets or other printed materials for canvassing and allow only handmade posters at designated places. They also restrict processions and public meetings outside campuses and prohibit candidates and their supporters from defacing university property.

Delhi University separately put in place a paperless campaign framework for the 2026 polls, barring printed posters, banners and other campaign material on campus and in its vicinity.

Students said almost all major political party-backed candidates violated the Rs 5,000 expenditure limit.

The High Court was told on Friday that challans were issued during the election period, and that several vehicles were impounded and criminal cases were registered in connection with election-related violations. Four people have been arrested, according to the information placed before the court.

The court’s observations came amid concerns over large vehicle cavalcades being used during campaigning. It questioned how such groups of vehicles, including some without number plates, were allowed to move around the university.

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The campaign has also seen allegations of political rivalry spilling into election-related material. The ABVP alleged in a social media post that the NSUI was using its name alongside that of ABVP on voting chits, calling it an act of desperation.  The allegation could not be independently verified.

Incidents of violence have also accompanied the election-related campaign.

Two students of Satyawati College were injured, and two vehicles were damaged after two groups quarrelled in northwest Delhi’s Bharat Nagar area. Police said the incident happened during the college election campaign. A firing incident and assault were also reported during the altercation, they said.