Delhi High Court seeks replies on plea for 50% women’s quota in DUSU polls

The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Centre, Delhi University and the University Grants Commission on a plea seeking 50% reservation for women students in DUSU and college student-union elections.

Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notice on the petition filed by Shabana Hussain. The matter is listed for further hearing on November 27.

Hussain’s petition says women are disproportionately underrepresented in the Delhi University Students’ Union and other college unions, despite DU having more than 100,000 students. It argues that the existing election environment, influenced by money, muscle power, violence and other irregularities, discourages women from contesting.

The plea says matters including sexual harassment, hostel curfews and safety do not receive adequate representation when women have limited presence in student bodies. It also contends that allowing women to contest without measures to ensure representation does not create substantive equality.

The court will consider the responses of the Centre, DU and the UGC at the November hearing.