Poll defacement: HC issues bailable warrants against 2 DU students

The Delhi High Court today issued bailable warrants against two students of the Delhi University for their failure to appear before it in a matter relating to defacement of public property during the 2017 students' union polls.
The court noted that show cause notices were earlier issued to 22 students to explain why punitive actions should not be taken against them for failing to participate in the cleanliness drive. Only two of them, who were served notice, appeared today.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar noted that two other students did not appear in the court despite serving of notice and issued bailable warrants to the sum of Rs 5,000 each against them. The remaining students could not be traced, the bench was told.

The two students Minakshi Meena and Avinash Yadav, who were present, assured the court that they would assist DUSU President Rocky Tuseed in cleaning and removing all objectionable material on public property and make attempts to beautify them.
The court also issues fresh show cause notices to the other students through the university.
The court was hearing a plea by advocate Prashant Manchanda, seeking a complete ban on defacement of public properties allegedly by the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) poll candidates.

Meanwhile, the parties submitted draft guidelines with a view to prevent future defacement of public properties in DUSU elections. The court sent it to joint registrar Reetesh Singh for his report and recommendations on it.

The court observed that some of the properties have been permanently damaged by spray paints.
The bench had earlier observed that defacement of properties can only be stopped if people were made aware of the penal provisions of such acts. The bench listed the matter for further hearing on March 20.