New Delhi: Taking note of the "remorse" expressed by 15 DUSU election candidates, Delhi High Court on Monday directed them to "clean up the mess" created due to their defacement of the campus and submit evidence. The matter was posted for next month when the court will consider lifting the stay imposed on the counting of votes.
"The candidates are directed to file affidavits along with photographs clearly showing they have removed all posters, hoardings, banners and graffiti and taken steps for the beautification of both the north and south campuses of Delhi University (DU). They should give an undertaking that in the future, they shall neither deface nor mutilate any public property," a bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela directed while hearing a PIL on the issue.
"You are youngsters, we will give you another chance. These are young minds, we don't want to punish them, but they have to clear up this mess," the court told the student contestants, including Ronak Khatri, Rishabh Chaudhary, Lokesh Chaudhary, Aman Kapasia and Deepika Jha.
"You (candidates) don't have the right to deface walls of either the university or anyone's private house. Who gave you the idea that you can go and deface a private person's wall and paint over it? Would you like it if your house gets spray-painted saying vote for x, vote for y? You must have a feeling for them... if this goes unabated, a whole generation may take a wrong turn. You are student leaders, you must set an example," the bench said.
HC, which earlier halted the counting of results, expressed dismay after certain videos were played in court by petitioner advocate Prashant Manchanda showing "unnumbered" cars blocking roads and a car doing a "drag" or a "wheelspin" on city roads during the campaigning.
"We have seen some videos where the highways are blocked by your supporters. That is not proper. Please get the university cleaned up. You seem to have a lot of funds at your disposal," the court said, pointing out that it was giving them a fresh chance instead of ordering FIRs against them.
HC also questioned some of the candidates, saying they should set an example for other students instead of dirtying the whole university campus. It also wondered why a majority of the candidates were enrolled in the Buddhist Studies course in DU while focusing on campaigning and elections.
"Everyone seems to be joining Buddhist Studies for contesting elections. They have nothing to do with the teachings of Buddha," the court remarked as it reviewed progress made in implementing its earlier orders on removing defacement.
The court had earlier summoned 16 students, who contested the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, held on Sept 27, as parties to the proceedings while directing them to appear before it. All except one were present in the court on Monday. The DU counsel said the vice chancellor also visited 30 colleges to check on the cleaning progress.