Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Delhi HC Questions Legal Basis for 50% Women’s DUSU Reservation
A petitioner asked the Delhi High Court to reserve half of the posts in Delhi University’s student elections for women.
The petitioner wanted the reserved posts to change on a rotating basis.
The request concerns elections for the Delhi University Students’ Union.
The court discussed the request on Wednesday.
The judges said they could not order the university to create this reservation unless a law allowed it.
They asked the petitioner to show them such a law.
The court did not rule that women can never receive reserved posts.
It focused on whether there is a legal basis for making the university provide them.
The Delhi High Court heard a PIL seeking 50% reservation for women in DUSU elections.
The plea asks Delhi University to reserve half of the student-union posts for women on a rotational basis.
The court said it could not direct the university to provide the reservation without a legal provision granting that right.
The observation was made on Wednesday during a hearing concerning forthcoming DUSU elections.
The judges asked the petitioner to identify the law giving women students a right to reserved DUSU posts.
- Who
- The Delhi High Court, Delhi University, the petitioner who filed the PIL, and a bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.
- What
- A PIL seeking 50% reservation for women in Delhi University Students’ Union election posts on a rotational basis.
- When
- Wednesday; one report identifies the date as September 2.
- Where
- The Delhi High Court, in a matter concerning Delhi University Students’ Union elections.
- Why
- The petitioner sought to require Delhi University to reserve half of the student-union posts for women.
Petitioner’s Position
Court’s Position
Reservation request
Petitioner’s Position
The petitioner seeks a direction requiring Delhi University to reserve 50% of DUSU election posts for women, with the reserved posts rotating.
Court’s Position
The court said it could not direct Delhi University to provide the reservation unless a legal provision grants women students that right.
Legal basis
Petitioner’s Position
The PIL asks the court to require the university to earmark half of the posts for women in the forthcoming elections.
Court’s Position
The judges asked the petitioner to show the law that gives women students a right to reserved DUSU posts.
- Court
- Delhi High Court
- Bench
- Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia
- Proceeding
- Public interest litigation
- Requested reservation
- 50% of Delhi University Students’ Union election posts for women
- Proposed method
- Reservation on a rotational basis
- Court’s observation
- The court said it could not direct the reservation without a legal provision granting women students that right
- Next issue
- The petitioner was asked to identify the law conferring the claimed right
