The Delhi High Court has held that mere membership of a political party’s student wing does not, by itself, amount to association with the political party and does not violate the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations governing student elections. At the same time, the Court directed the Delhi University authorities and Chief Election Officer to ensure that the ongoing Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections remain free from participation or interference by persons associated with political parties.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia was hearing a PIL challenging the August 13, 2026 election notification and September 11, 2026 notice publishing the list of candidates eligible to contest the DUSU elections for 2026-27. The challenge, among other grounds, alleged that several candidates were affiliated with student organisations linked to political parties and that their participation was contrary to the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations.
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The Court examined Clause 6.3 of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, titled ‘Disassociation of Student Elections and Student Representation from Political Parties’, along with Clause 6.3.1. It held that the provisions, read together, require the student election process and student representation to remain completely disassociated from political parties. They also prohibit any person who is not a bona fide student of the concerned college or university from participating in the election process in any capacity.
However, the Bench drew a distinction between a political party and a student organisation associated with that party. It held that student organisations declaring the affiliation of candidates cannot, merely on that basis, be treated as political parties. The Court noted that the Lyngdoh recommendations do not define ‘political party’ and referred to the Representation of the People Act, 1951, under which a political party is an association or body of citizens registered with the Election Commission under Section 29A.
The Court therefore held that merely because a student is a member of the student wing of a political party, it would not amount to association with the political party for the purposes of Clause 6.3. Such membership, by itself, would not violate the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations.
At the same time, the Bench made it clear that persons who are members of or associated with political parties have no role in the DUSU election process. The Chief Election Officer and University authorities were directed to ensure that the elections remain free from political-party participation and interference, including interference “even remotely”.
The Court specifically considered a poster in which a candidate’s candidature for the post of President was accompanied by the name and election symbol of a political party. The Bench observed that such activity was prohibited and required to be checked by the University authorities and the Chief Election Officer.
The Court also rejected the challenge to the August 13 election notification. It held that the fact that documents such as the DUSU Constitution, Code of Conduct, Lyngdoh Committee-related material and relevant judicial orders were not annexed to the notification did not invalidate it, since the documents were already available on the Delhi University website and in the public domain.
While the writ petition was ultimately dismissed, the Court directed the University authorities to ensure strict compliance with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, the Code of Conduct, applicable judicial orders and the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007 during the ongoing DUSU elections.
