DMRC, DU students to beautify 10 defaced sites

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) told the Delhi High Court on Thursday that it along with some Delhi University students has identified 10 sites, which were defaced during the varsity polls, for beautification as a pilot project.

A Bench told the DMRC to do the needful and submit a report by the next date of hearing on July 16.

The court was hearing a plea by advocate Prashant Manchanda, who sought a ban on defacement of public properties during the Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) polls. He had contended that it was next to impossible to completely remove the defacement done during the election campaign.

The Bench directed the DMRC, the university, Mr. Manchanda and the varsity’s students union to coordinate with the joint registrar of the High Court and finalise the guidelines against defacement.

The action plan will also contain details of the manner in which effective steps could be taken for putting the information with regard to consequences of and penal actions for defacement of public property in the public domain through use of electronic and print media.

Penal consequences

The court also directed the Centre, the State and the university to take steps to publicise the penal consequences of defacement of public property, including in the campus area. It had said that defacement of public property was a serious offence, punishable with up to 10 years in jail.

It had earlier warned the students of university that they might have to go to jail if they were found defacing public property ahead of the next DUSU elections.