NGT issues contempt notices to DU, DUSU and UGC

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal issued contempt notices to Delhi University Students' Union, Delhi University and University Grants Commission on the issue of wastage of paper during students' union polls on Tuesday. The tribunal in 2016 asked the university and the student's groups that participate in the elections to go paperless during the canvassing.

On Tuesday, upon mentioning before the NGT by the counsel Piyush Singh for DU law student Nithin Chandran about the defiance and contempt of the NGT order for paperless campaign, the Tribunal relying upon the news report dated September 4, 2017 of the TOI has issued dasti notice to all the respondents including DU and DUSU.

The TOI, while retrieving file photos from its archives on Tuesday reported that "Delhi University looks a mess right now. It's election time, and every available space on the campus is taken up by posters and ugly campaign graffiti. Both the JM Lyngdoh Commission on student politics, in 2006, and the National Green Tribunal, since 2015, have urged the university to opt for paperless electioneering. But 10 days before polling day, one can easily see that the DUSU poll is not only among the biggest in student union balloting, but also among the ugliest."

The NGT Act 2010 has provisions for penalty under section 26 of the act in case of failure to comply with orders of tribunal. Maximum punishment of three years imprisonment and Rs 10 crore as fine.

The Bench of Justice Swatanter Kumar and B S Sajwan issued notices to DU, DUSU and Chief Election Officer of DU and University Grants Commission. The matter will come up for hearing on Wednesday, the day when the final list of candidates is to be declared.

The DUSU 2017 elections are scheduled for September 12, 2017.