The Delhi High court issued bailable warrants against over 15 candidates who contested in 2017 DUSU elections, for failing to appear in court despite being served with notice in connection to PIL filed against defacement of public property.
It also directed the students to work with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to restore its defaced properties across the city, which also reported 76 locations’ metro properties and permanently defaced with restoration cost over 16 lakhs and take about 6 months time.
The court directed all the students to coordinate with the authorities concerned to propose relevant designs with a view to beautify the property, restoring its aesthetic value.
The high court had on the last hearing warned the students of¬†Delhi University¬†that they may have to go to jail if they are found defacing public property ahead of the next elections for the varsity’s student union, DUSU.
The bench had said it cannot “tolerate” public property being “blatantly” defaced.
It had also asked the candidates, who contested in the 2017 DUSU polls to evolve a mechanism for removing the existing defacements.
The court has argued that in order to avert future destruction of public properties, a public awareness campaign must be initiated by the Centre and the Delhi government. And asked them and the Delhi metro authorities to present the action plan for advertising the penal provisions for defacement of Public property by next hearing.
The observation and direction by the bench came during the hearing of a plea by advocate Prashant Manchanda, who has sought a complete ban on defacement of public properties by the DUSU poll candidates.
We strongly condemn misuse and defacement of public properties for personal advertisement and believe we all have the liability to keep them clean and preserved.
