The Delhi High Court considered an appeal for 50% women reservation in DUSU elections 2024 on Wednesday. During the hearings, the court directed the administration of Delhi University to attend to the proposal for introducing a fifty percent quota for women in these elections. The court has given the institution three weeks to decide this case.
The university has been given three weeks by a bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan to make a ruling on a plea that was submitted by Shabana Hussain. Hussain, represented by Advocate Ashu Bidhuri, contended that women still suffer major obstacles to voting in the DUSU elections 2024, even with the huge financial and human resources allotted to them.
The DU Vice Chancellor was first made aware of the problem in October 2023 after receiving a written request. But because the institution didn’t deal with it, a petition took the issue to the High Court. In addition, the petition demands the creation of regulations to guarantee 50% women reservation in DUSU elections.
The procedure for the DUSU elections 2024 has already begun with the distribution of the notification. Starting on September 17, students who wish to run in these elections can submit their nominations.
Interestingly, this timeline aligns closely with last year’s DUSU elections, which were also held in September. The regularity of holding these elections during this time of the year underscores the significance of the democratic process in shaping student leadership at one of India’s premier educational institutions.
The petitioner maintained that gender parity in student elections is crucial. They pleaded with the institution to follow the Lyngdoh Committee’s recommendations. The petition emphasised how important it is to follow these rules to guarantee that every student has a fair and inclusive voting process.
It was underlined that creating a more fair and representative student governance system requires more than merely enacting legislation to achieve gender parity in student elections. The petitioner demanded that the institution modify its procedures to comply with the suggestions made by the Lyngdoh Committee to advance equal opportunity, justice, and transparency in the voting process.
The Union Ministry of Human Resources Development formed a committee under the direction of former Chief Election Commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh in response to an order from the highest court. This committee’s purpose is to discuss and offer recommendations on an array of issues about student organisations and the running of student union elections in Indian universities, colleges, and other higher education establishments.
This committee’s establishment demonstrates a dedication to guaranteeing that the procedures controlling student organisations and elections are just, open, and consistent with the standards established by the court. The committee’s proposals are intended to improve academic institutions’ democratic processes and address any outstanding problems with student governance.
