The Delhi High Court on November 10 will hear a petition moved by a students’ body taking exception to the allotment of ballot numbers in alphabetical orders to the candidates for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.
According to the petitioner, candidates with their names on top of ballot papers get advantage during the polling.
The petitioner, All India Students’ Union (AISA), has sought the Court’s directions for allotment of ballot numbers by draw of lots. The AISA also sought a stay on the DUSU elections, scheduled to be held on September 12. The last date for filing of nominations is September 3.
A Division Bench comprising Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul refused to stay the election, but agreed to hear the plea and examine the issues involved in the case. The Court listed the matter for hearing on November 10. The petition was moved against a Single Bench order refusing to interfere in the process for the DUSU polls.
The Single Bench of the High Court had stated that there should “normally be no stay” of the election process prior to declaration of results. It had said the elections must be allowed to be concluded and any challenge to holding of polls must await their conclusion.
The AISA stated in its petition that the candidates with their names on top of lists had an “unfair advantage” as their position on the electronic voting machines was accordingly determined. Those with their names appearing first in the list on EVMs had a higher chance of winning as many voters, unsure of whom they wish to vote for, press the buttons on the top by default.
According to the petitioner, several candidates get their names changed to introduce the alphabet ‘A’ before their original name prior to elections to get advantage of the alphabetical listing.
