Anyone, not just parents, can pay ₹1 Lakh surety for students contesting DUSU polls: Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court ruled that any financially solvent individual can act as a surety for students contesting DUSU elections, rather than restricting the role to parents. The court maintained that the ₹1 lakh bond requirement is reasonable to prevent property damage during campaigns.
Why it matters
This decision balances the need for election accountability with the rights of students to participate in democratic processes without restrictive familial dependencies.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday (September 3, 2026) said that not just parents but anyone who is in a position to pay ₹1 lakh, as per a Delhi University requirement, can stand as surety for candidates contesting the upcoming DUSU elections.
The court passed the order while dealing with a petition filed by AISA activists Ananya Raturi and Akshat Shikhar against an affidavit prescribed by the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) election committee, which says the candidates must obtain their parents' or guardians' consent to their candidature, along with a ₹1 lakh surety from them.
Justice Jasmeet Singh said, “The condition is fair and reasonable except that the bond need not only be given by the parents and can be given by anyone, including a guardian who is in a position to pay ₹1 lakh and stand as a surety.”
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