The Delhi High Court directed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Friday to reconstitute the ad hoc committee to manage the affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The court passed an interim order in response to a petition filed by renowned wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik which sought suspension of the federation and stay on its operations. Justice Sachin Datta, while passing the order observed that the decision of abolition of the ad hoc committee in March 2024 was contrary to the obligations of the IOA. left the constitution of the committee on IOA.
An ad hoc committee, led by Bhupender Singh Bajwa, was earlier formed in December 2023 and was tasked to oversee and supervise the operations of the federation, including the conduction of trials and the selection of players. The ad hoc committee was dissolved by the IOA in March in light of the revocation of the ban on WFI by the world wrestling body, Union World Wrestling (UWW) in February.
The IOA justified its decision by stating that the committee was required no more as it had served its purpose. Justice Datta noted in his 30-page verdict that there was no communication from the sports ministry for the IOA to lift the ban from the WFI and dissolve the ad hoc committee. The court also clarified that the suspension of the WFI by the sports ministry dated 24.12.23 continues as the governance issues in the federation, as cited in the suspension report of the sports ministry, have not been resolved.
What is the stance of the WFI on the court’s judgment?
WFI President Sanjay Singh issued his statement following the court’s order and said that they would challenge the decision to a double bench. WFI President stated that an external interference of the ad hoc committee could lead to the possible suspension of the federation and jeopardize the participation of Indian wrestlers as two world championships are approaching.
In a letter on April 25, UWW President Lalovic had warned the WFI President that any third party running the affairs of the sport in India is a violation of their statutes and completely unacceptable.
However, Justice Datta in his judgment stressed that the law of the land is supreme and cannot be construed as “governmental interference” or “third-party interference.”
Why WFI was suspended by UWW and Sports Ministry
The whole scenario started in January last year with the wrestler’s protest against the then federation chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh when some women wrestlers accused him of sexual harassment. Elections of the federation were subsequently deferred following the inquiry into the allegations by the wrestlers. In August 2023, the Wrestling Federation of India was suspended by the UWW for not conducting elections timely.
When Brij Bhushan Singh had stepped down and the elections were finally conducted on December 21, his loyalist Sanjay Singh was elected as the federation chief. The Sports Ministry too banned the WFI on December 24, 2023, for not allegedly pursuing its own written constitution and making decisions in haste.
