: The Delhi High Court has issued a notice on a petition seeking cancellation of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) presidential election. The HC directed the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to preserve the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), paper trail and all other records related to the polls.
Hearing the case, Justice Mini Pushkarna ordered the CEC appointed by the Delhi University to safeguard all EVMs and other poll related documents. The next hearing in the matter will be held on December 16. The petitioner’s lawyer, citing EVM malfunctions, sought to cancel the September 18 presidential election and counting.
This petition was filed by former DUSU president and NSUI leader Raunak Khatri. He served as the student union president in 2024. Meanwhile, the Delhi University opposed the demand to cancel the election. Before the DUSU poll results were announced, Raunak Khatri had told the media that the EVMs were tampered. He had also said that he would approach the court regarding this matter.
What does Raunak Khatri’s petition say?
In his petition, Raunak Khatri claimed that there were serious irregularities in several colleges during the DU students’ union election held on September 18. He also claimed that ink was pre-applied against the name of a particular candidate on the EVMs.
Khatri also said that this was an attempt to influence the voters. His petition also states that when the issue was reported to the election officials and the university administration, no suitable action was taken. Khatri added that the irregularities were not limited to one college and similar complaints were reported from several other poll centers.
Meanwhile advocate Mohinder Rupal, who is representing the Delhi University, said that there was no tampering with the EVMs. He said that the mark visible on the EVM was merely a thumbprint, which cannot be considered tampering.
