AISA Moves Delhi High Court Against DU Parental Undertaking for DUSU Elections
All India Students’ Association (AISA) activists approached the Delhi High Court on Wednesday to challenge Delhi University’s decision requiring parents of students contesting Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections to furnish a separate undertaking.
The petition in the High Court was moved by AISA activists Ananya Raturi and Akshat Shikhar. The plea specifically challenges the election committee of the Delhi University Students’ Union over the introduction of the condition for candidates seeking to participate in the student body polls.
According to the Left-backed student organization, the university introduced a new election document requiring parents of prospective candidates to submit a separate affidavit in addition to the undertaking provided by the students themselves.
As per the terms laid out in the Delhi University document, parents are required to formally confirm that they are aware of their ward's candidature and have given their consent to contest the elections. The document further mandates that parents must stand surety for the candidate for an amount of Rs 1 lakh to cover potential violations of election guidelines, specifically including the defacement of university or public property.
The requirement for a surety bond was originally introduced last year. At that time, AISA had challenged the Rs 1-lakh pre-deposit and bond condition before the Delhi High Court. Following that legal challenge, the court had directed that the financial amount be furnished through an indemnity affidavit instead of an upfront pre-deposit or bond.
Ahead of the upcoming election process, DUSU chief election officer Raj Kishore Sharma had stated on August 14 that the Rs 1-lakh requirement would not be enforced this year. Sharma had noted that students would not be required to furnish any financial undertaking or meet any financial prerequisite for signing the affidavit.
Despite those earlier assurances, the inclusion of the parental surety condition in the election paperwork prompted the AISA activists to seek judicial intervention from the High Court.
