The Delhi High Court recently asked the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to clarify its stance on the status of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). This development came in the wake of the dissolution of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed ad hoc committee that was managing the affairs of the suspended WFI.
Delhi High Court’s intervention on the stance of WFI
The court’s intervention was prompted by a pending writ petition filed by renowned wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and her husband Satyawart Kadian. The petitioners sought to declare the December 2023 elections held by the WFI as illegal and demanded the immediate appointment of a ‘one-man committee’, preferably a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge, to take over the management, control, and administration of the WFI.
The petition also requested that the suspension of the WFI not be revoked until the main matter is decided. The WFI was suspended through the Ministry’s order dated December 24, 2023. The court noted that the Ministry’s affidavit did not clarify whether this suspension continues to subsist or not.
The Delhi High Court expressed its dissatisfaction with the Ministry’s affidavit, terming it as vague and not dealing with the salient aspects of the matter. The court observed that the affidavit did not take a position on the circumstances that led to the disbanding of the ad-hoc committee and who is currently in charge of the WFI’s affairs.
In light of these observations, the court asked the joint secretary concerned in the Ministry to appear through video conferencing on April 10, when the matter will be heard next. The court also granted an opportunity to the Ministry to file an affidavit taking a clear stand on these issues raised by the court within a week.
This development has significant implications for the future of wrestling in India. The WFI is the governing body for the sport in the country, and its suspension has raised questions about the representation of Indian wrestlers in international events. The court’s intervention seeks to bring clarity to this situation and ensure that the interests of the wrestlers are protected.
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