Congress-backed National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) has challenged the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) presidential polls in Delhi High Court, stating that the Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) were tampered. Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) candidate Aryan Maan emerged victorious in the presidential election. The RSS-backed students’ body won two more posts – Secretary and Joint Secretary, while NSUI could win only one post – Vice President.
The Delhi HC has now issued notice to the Delhi University, asking it to preserve the EVMs used in the presidential polling, along with paper trails and related documents, reported PTI. The HC has asked the DU authorities to secure the materials under lock and key.
The petition has been filed by former DUSU head and NSUI leader Ronak Khatri, and Joslyn Nandita Chaudhary, the NSUI candidate against Aryan Maan for the post of President (2025). It stated that the polling held on September 18, 2025, was vitiated as EVMs were tampered with.
The petitioners sought quashing of the process and a fresh election under judicial supervision.
What happened in court
Advocate Mohinder Rupal, appearing for Delhi University, argued that there was no tampering with EVMs. He said that someone has merely put a thumb mark and that “there is no tampering.”
The Court said that the present writ petition has been filed with the prayer for direction to quash and set aside the polling process for the President post in view of the ground that there has been tampering of EVMs. “Issue notice,” it said.
The court further added that while the petition makes specific allegations of irregularities, the winning candidate for the post of President has not been impleaded as a party. The HC then ordered the Electoral Commissioner of Delhi University to ensure that the EVMs, paper trails, and related documentation remain preserved under secure custody. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on December 16.
Petitioners claim ‘vote chori’
On the day of counting, the NSUI said “vote theft” has taken place in the election that led to the victory of ABVP candidate in three of the four key posts. The petition added that during polling across several colleges, huge irregularities were detected, especially in the EVMs.
They alleged the machines carried blue ink markings deliberately placed against the name of the ABVP’s presidential candidate on the ballot display.
They said these visible markings were clearly noticeable to every voter approaching the machine and were intended to influence, pressure, or direct voters towards one candidate. Such manipulation, undermines the very foundation of the electoral process by eroding the principles of free and fair elections, the petitioners further argued.