Shivansh Kalia v. University of Delhi & Ors.

1. The present writ petition has been filed by the petitioner, a bonafide student of B.Sc. (Hons.) Statistics Programme at Pannalal Girdharlal Dayanand Anglo-Vedic College (Morning), seeking quashing of the impugned Notification dated 08th August, 2025, issued by the respondent- University.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that the Notification mandates that all candidates contesting for the Delhi University Students Union (“DUSU”) Elections 2025-26, as well as the College Students Union Elections, must execute a bond of Rs. 1.00 Lakh to cover any alleged defacement/violation of the Guidelines contained in the said Notification, during the election process.

3. Issue notice. Notice is accepted by learned counsels appearing for the respondents.

4. Attention of this Court is drawn to the order dated 29th August, 2025, passed in W.P.(C) 13007/2025, titled as “Anjali & Anr. Versus University of Delhi & Anr.”, wherein, in similar circumstances, the writ petition was disposed with a clarification. The order dated 29th August, 2025, passed in W.P.(C) 13007/2025, reads as under: “1. The present writ petition has been filed seeking prayer for quashing Clause „v‟ of the Notification dated 08th August, 2025, issued by the Registrar, University of Delhi, as unconstitutional and ultra vires the Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations.

2. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that the petitioners are bona fide students of Delhi University. He submits that they hail from Economically Weaker Sections (“EWS”) category and come from a humble background.

3. It is submitted that the petitioners wish to contest the Delhi University Students‟ Union (“DUSU”) Elections, 2025.

4. However, it is submitted that the petitioners are aggrieved by Clause „v‟ of the Notification dated 08th August, 2025, issued by the candidate shall be required to execute a bond of Rs. 1.00 Lakh for the offence of any defacement/violation of provisions of the Guidelines contained in the said notification by themselves or their supporters, at the time of filing of nomination for any post of DUSU.

5. It is submitted that Clause „v‟ of the impugned Notification imposes an unprecedented financial barrier by requiring Rs. 1.00 Lakh security bond. It is submitted that the petitioners, who intend to stand for the DUSU Elections, cannot furnish a bond of Rs. 1.00 Lakh.

6. When the present matter was listed for hearing on 27th August, 2025, this Court had put it to learned counsel for the petitioners that there is no requirement of pre-deposit of Rs. 1.00 Lakh as security, prior to contesting the elections. This Court was of the view that only a bond was required to be executed.

7. Thus, the matter was directed to be listed today, for purposes of instructions from learned counsel appearing for the University of Delhi.

8. Today, learned counsel appearing for University of Delhi submits that he has received the instructions that the University will seek only a simple affidavit/undertaking from the candidates contesting the Student Union/DUSU Election, 2025-26, with a bond of Rs. 1.00 Lakh.

9. It is further submitted that except for filing an affidavit/undertaking with regard to the bond of Rs. 1.00 Lakh, there is no requirement of pre-deposit of Rs. 1.00 Lakh, as per the said Notification.

10. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that if that be the case, the petitioners are satisfied, as the said stand by the University of Delhi takes care of the concern of the petitioners, since it has been clarified that the petitioners are not required to deposit any money at the time of contesting elections.

11. Considering the aforesaid statements, it is clarified that the petitioners, or any other students intending to contest DUSU Elections, are not required to deposit any money, at the time of contesting the Elections.

12. Accordingly, with the aforesaid clarification, the present writ petition, along with the pending application, is disposed of.”