Delhi HC bars students with less than 75% attendance from contesting DU elections

The Delhi High Court has ruled that students who fail to meet the mandatory 75% attendance requirement cannot be allowed to contest elections to student bodies in Delhi University colleges. Justice Mini Pushkarna, as reported by Live Law, observed that colleges are well within their authority to reject nominations if candidates fall short of the prescribed attendance benchmark.The order came while hearing a petition challenging the rejection of a nomination for a college-level union election. The court held that the minimum attendance rule was not merely procedural but integral to ensuring discipline and academic seriousness among candidates seeking to represent the student community.

Court’s reasoning

Justice Pushkarna underlined that student leaders must first fulfil their academic obligations before aspiring to hold representative office. “If the attendance of a candidate is below the minimum 75% attendance criteria, the concerned college would be within its authority to reject the nomination,” the order stated as reported by Live Law.

Implications for DUSU elections

The judgment carries wider significance as it directly impacts the ongoing Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections for 2025–26, scheduled for September 18, with counting on September 19. With 21 candidates in the fray for the top four posts, president, vice president, secretary, and joint secretary, the ruling reinforces the emphasis on academic compliance even in the highly politicised student election process.

Women candidates stand out

This year’s elections have already drawn attention for the notable rise of women contestants from DU’s premier departments and colleges. The Department of Buddhist Studies alone has fielded three candidates for president, while aspirants from Hindu College, Bhagini Nivedita College, and the Department of Social Work are contesting secretary and joint secretary posts. Their prominence reflects an evolving campus politics where academic standing and inclusivity go hand in hand.

Key issues on campus

Beyond legal and procedural questions, campaigning has centred on student concerns: Hostel shortages, escalating fees, women’s safety, and the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020. Political outfits ABVP and NSUI remain the dominant players, but the election has also seen independent candidates bringing diverse perspectives into the race.

Why the verdict matters

The High Court’s emphasis on attendance as a prerequisite adds a new dimension to the scrutiny of candidates. It affirms that student representatives cannot be divorced from academic responsibility, reinforcing a balance between activism and educational commitment. For universities often criticised as ideological battlegrounds, the ruling may be seen as an attempt to tether politics more closely to academic discipline.