W.P.(C) 7824/2017 Page 1 of 5 $~59 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010028872017 + W.P.(C) 7824/2017 PRASHANT MANCHANDA .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Angad Singh, Mr. Rohan Pratap Singh, Mr. Varun, Ms. Nancy Shah and Mr. Archit Dwivedi, Advocates along with Petitioner-in-person. versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Chetan Sharma, ASG with Mr. Syed Abdul Haseeb, CGSC; Mr.
Amit Gupta, Mr. R.V. Prabhat, Mr. Shubham Sharma, Mr. Naman, Mr. Muhammad Aamir Khan, Advocates, Ms. Isha Singh, DCP (Legal) and Mr. Vishesh Dhatterwal, ACP North District for UoI/Delhi Police. Mr. Sanjeev Sabharwal, Standing Counsel with Ms. Shweta Singh, Advocate for R3/MCD. Mr. Apoorv Kurup, Senior Advocate with Mr. Adhithya Srinivasan, Mr. Vedansh Anand, Mr. Rishi Raj Singh, Mr. Shivam Kumar, Mr.
Kush Garg and Ms. Aayushi Gaur, Advocates for R8/ABVP. Mr. Ashu Bidhuri, Mr. Swapnam Prakash Singh and Ms. Shabana Hussain, Advocates for R9. Mr. Mohinder Rupal, Mr. Hardik Rupal, Ms. Aishwarya Malhotra, Ms. Tripta Sharma, Advocates with Prof. Raj Kishor Sharma, Chief Election Officer, Prof. Rajesh Singh, Chief Returning Officer and Prof. Manoj Kumar Singh, Proctor for University of Delhi.This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 18/09/2026 at 17:13:56 W.P.(C) 7824/2017 Page 2 of 5 CORAM: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE TEJAS KARIA O R D E R % 18.09.2026 CM APPL. 64187/2026 1. Pursuant to our Order dated 17.09.2026, a Status Report has been filed on behalf of the Delhi Police, which is taken on record.
The Delhi University has also filed a Status Report, that also be taken on record.
2. Heard Mr. Angad Singh, learned Counsel for the Petitioner, Mr. Chetan Sharma, learned ASG representing Union of India and Delhi Police, Mr. Sanjeev Sabharwal, learned Counsel representing the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (“MCD”), Mr. Apoorv Kurup, learned Senior Counsel representing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Mr.
Ashu Bidhuri, learned Counsel representing Respondent No. 9 and Mr. Mohinder Rupal, learned Counsel representing University of Delhi. The officers of Delhi University, namely, Prof. Raj Kishor Sharma, Chief Election Officer, Prof. Rajesh Singh, Chief Returning Officer and Prof. Manoj Kumar Singh, Proctor, and those of Delhi Police, namely, Ms. Isha Singh, DCP (Legal) and Mr. Vishesh Dhatterwal, ACP North District, are also present during the course of the hearing.
3.
The Status Report filed on behalf of Commissioner of Police discloses certain actions which have been taken for violation of law as also the other regulations regulating the conduct of elections. Several FIRs have been lodged, vehicles have been impounded and even arrests have been made.
4. We, thus, direct that the criminal action initiated by the Delhi Police shall, in all right earnest, be taken to its logical end.This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 18/09/2026 at 17:13:56 W.P.(C) 7824/2017 Page 3 of 5 5. So far as the Status Report filed by the Chief Election Officer of Delhi University Students’ Union (“DUSU”) Elections 2026-27 is concerned, what we notice is that in certain reported cases, Show Cause Notices have been issued, however, even such action administratively taken by the Delhi University and also the action taken by the Delhi Police do not appear to be working as a deterrent to those, who reportedly have been indulging in all kinds of not only hooliganism in and around the campus but also in certain illegal activities even amounting to commission of crime which has not abated.
6.
We had recorded our displeasure in our earlier orders for the manner in which the students, during the course of entire election, have been conducting themselves. There cannot be any doubt on any count that frequent and brazen violation of the recommendations made by Lyngdoh Committee is occurring. The situation, which has arisen needs to be checked by all means.
7. Having noticed the frequent violations on part of the students, candidates and even the student organisations, we propose to proceed to impose collective electoral damages not only on the students who may be found violating the norms but also on the student organisations.
8.
Let Notice to all the student organisations, a list of which shall be provided by Mr. Mohinder Rupal, learned Counsel representing the Delhi University, by tomorrow, be issued. We request Mr. Mohinder Rupal, learned Counsel to further provide the list of 140 candidates, who are contesting the DUSU Elections. Notices shall be issued to all these 140 candidates as well.This is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 18/09/2026 at 17:13:56 W.P.(C) 7824/2017 Page 4 of 5 9. Learned Counsel for the Petitioner is directed to compile the relevant record and documents, which according to him, would establish violations. The said compilation shall be filed within a period of two weeks after supplying a soft copy thereof to all the Respondents as also the student organisations which have been impleaded under this Order and the individual candidates as well.
10.
On receipt of such compilation, the student organisations and the candidates may file their Reply showing cause as to why they may not be saddled with exemplary electoral damages for violations, by the next date of hearing.
11. We have been informed that the polling for DUSU Elections is going on today and counting shall conclude tomorrow, whereafter result is also likely to be declared tomorrow.
12.
Having regard to the past experience as already noticed by this Court in earlier orders, we direct that no victory processions shall be taken out after declaration of the Election Results, and even thereafter, by the candidates or students and their supporters or anyone else, not only on the roads of Delhi but also within the campuses and hostels.
13. It will be the responsibility of the Delhi Police to ensure that any such victory procession does not take place.
Any violation thereof shall not only entail criminal and administrative actions against the erring students and their supporters, but will also amount to contempt of this Court.
14. We reiterate our earlier directions to the Police authorities as also the administration of the Delhi University that they shall take all possible actions and measures to ensure that no violation of the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee, and various orders passed by this Court from timeThis is a digitally signed order.
The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 18/09/2026 at 17:13:56 W.P.(C) 7824/2017 Page 5 of 5 to time do not take place. The authorities including the MCD authorities shall further ensure that no violation of the Delhi Metro Rail (O&M) Act, 2002 and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 takes place.
In case any violations are reported or found, the concerned agency shall immediately take action against such violations.
15. We also direct that all permissible preventive actions shall also be taken by the Delhi Police as also by the authorities of Delhi University.
16. This Order shall immediately be communicated to all the authorities by their respective learned Counsel. We also direct that the student organisations present today before this Court shall apprise all the candidates and students and their supporters of this Order forthwith, without waiting for its certified copy.
17.
List on 06.11.2026. DEVENDRA KUMAR UPADHYAYA, CJ TEJAS KARIA, J SEPTEMBER 18, 2026/smsThis is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 18/09/2026 at 17:13:56