The Delhi High Court recently sought a response from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs on a plea by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) challenging its suspension. The plea was heard by Justice Subramonium Prasad, who issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, asking it to file its reply to the petition within four weeks.
Sports Ministry is unresponsive on WFI’s suspension
The WFI had been suspended by the Sports Ministry on December 24, 2023, three days after it had elected new office bearers. The suspension was due to allegations that the WFI had not followed the provisions of its constitution while making decisions. The Ministry had cited the WFI’s “hasty announcement” of organizing U-15 and U-20 nationals “without following due procedure and not giving sufficient notice to wrestlers” for preparations as one of the reasons for the suspension.
The Ministry also felt that the newly-elected WFI was working under the control of its former office-bearers, which was not in conformity with the National Sports Code. Sanjay Singh, a close associate of multiple-term BJP Lok Sabha MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused by female wrestlers in a sexual harassment case, had succeeded him to the post.
Advocate Dayan Krishna, representing WFI, submitted that the WFI had no show cause notice issued to them before the decision to indefinitely suspend it was taken. Krishnan argued that the hasty decision violates the constitutional provisions of WFI as well as the National Sports Code, which contemplates the issuance of a show cause notice before such action. He added that this was against the principles of natural justice.
The court has listed the matter for further hearing on May 28. Another bench of the High Court is scheduled to hear a plea by four wrestlers, including Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia, seeking directions to the Ministry to not revoke WFI’s suspension and appoint a one-man committee to take over the federation’s management and administration.
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