The Delhi High Court on Thursday allowed the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections to proceed as scheduled on Friday, but halted the counting of votes until candidates restore the defaced properties and remove the posters, hoardings, graffiti and spray-painted walls across the city, and compensate the civic agencies for the damage caused.

This court directs that the elections process may proceed yet no counting of votes shall take place either on Delhi University [Students’ Union] elections or on college elections till this court is satisfied that public property is restored,” a Bench of Chief Justice-designate Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said.

The court was hearing pleas seeking action against DUSU candidates and student outfits involved in “damaging, defacing, soiling or destroying the beauty of public walls”.