New Delhi: All India Students’ Association (AISA) moved Delhi High Court Wednesday against Delhi University’s decision to seek a separate undertaking from parents of students contesting in its student union elections.AISA activists Ananya Raturi and Akshat Shikhar filed the petition challenging the undertaking sought by the election committee of Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU). The Left-backed outfit alleged that under a “newly introduced” election document, parents of the candidates would have to submit a separate affidavit in addition to their ward’s undertaking.According to the DU document, the parents have to confirm that they are aware of and have consented to the student’s candidature and stand surety for the candidate for an amount of Rs 1 lakh in case of violations of election guidelines, including defacement of university or public property.The requirement for the surety bond was introduced last year and AISA had challenged the Rs 1-lakh pre-deposit/bond requirement. Delhi High Court then directed that the amount be furnished through an indemnity affidavit instead.On Aug 14, the DUSU chief election officer 2026-27, Raj Kishore Sharma, told TOI that the Rs 1-lakh requirement would be dropped this year. “Students will not be required to furnish any financial undertaking or meet any financial prerequisite for signing the affidavit,” he had said.Sharma, however, said Wednesday that the undertaking was not a new requirement and was the same as those prescribed last year, which was amended following the court’s order.According to the current election documents, under the surety bond, a liability of Rs 1 lakh is binding on the parent for acts or omissions by a candidate or his supporters.AISA has now questioned the need to involve parents in the candidature of adult university students, arguing that many students are financially independent and may not have parental support for contesting elections. It also raised concerns about the impact of such a requirement on women students who may face resistance at home when seeking to participate in campus politics.The outfit alleged that combining parental consent with a Rs 1-lakh financial liability could make contesting DUSU elections more difficult for students without political or financial backing, and called for the “policing” of campus democracy to stop.
