The Delhi High Court on Monday (October 16) suggested some creative solutions for the defaced walls of Delhi University after the recently concluded students’ union elections. The bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar suggested that works of art – also spray painted – be used to cover up the defaced walls. She suggested that the DMRC can coordinate with the arts students of the university for such an arrangement.

The bench was adjudicating on a petition filed by Prashant Manchanda over the campaigners not following the Election Commission guidelines to not deface public property during the university elections. It had been argued that not following guidelines meant that the elections were illegal and should be cancelled.

The court, however, refused to cancel the elections. Justice Gita Mittal said that the punishment for defacing public property in university elections is severe. However, the court did not wish to take cognisance of this matter in a criminal tone because it might jeopardize the career plan of students.

Earlier, while hearing the same matter on October 12, the National Green Tribunal bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar had directed that government properties are not to be defaced by sticking bills and posters and any such future action would draw huge fines. However, the bench did not fine anybody for defacing walls the last elections.

The students, though, do not seem to have taken the order seriously. The petitioner in his appeal highlighted that defacing of public property has not stopped yet. The prospective candidates for next elections have already written slogans and wishes for Diwali, the irony being that they are writing slogans like “Clean Diwali” on Delhi University walls.

The court also directed the university authorities to hold a meeting with the election wing on October 27 at the office of the Dean of Student Welfare and submit a report of the meeting with the court by the end of this month.

—India Legal Bureau