Delhi High Court: Seeks Response on 50% Women's Reservation in DUSU Polls

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Central government, the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Delhi University on a plea seeking 50 percent reservation for female students in Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) and College Students’ Union elections. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia asked the respondents to file their responses to the plea.During the hearing of the case, the Court questioned the petitioner's argument that women's reservation for will help reduce the violence associated with the polls."Are you suggesting that by providing 50 percent reservation [for women], the violence will abate? Are you saying they are less violent? What is this argument?" the Court asked.The matter will be heard next in November.Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas KariaThe High Court was dealing with a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by one Shabana Hussain.She stated that the University of Delhi has more than one lakh students, but despite the substantial number of female students, their representation in elected student bodies remains disproportionately low.The plea further highlighted that issues concerning women students, including sexual harassment, hostel curfew timings and safety do not receive adequate representation when women are underrepresented in student unions.The counsel for the petitioner pointed out that the parliament has passed a law reserving 33 per