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The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice in a fresh application moved by wrestlers Bajrang Punia and others seeking the court’s directions to appoint an independent administrator to run the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), including overseeing the selection trials.
The plea comes after the Delhi High Court had in August directed the reconstitution of the ad hoc committee of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) that was tasked with overseeing and supervising the WFI’s operations, including selections and trials, after the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) had suspended the wrestling body’s newly elected executive committee in 2023.
The WFI had elected a new executive committee after the ouster of its former chief Brij Bhushan Singh following multiple sexual harassment allegations by wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat.
The wrestlers’ fresh application has submitted that despite the “unambiguous directives” of the high court, the respondents “in flagrant disobedience, have failed to comply with the orders” and have not reinstated the ad hoc committee to govern WFI till date, “thereby thwarting the proper administration of justice…and causing grave prejudice to the sport of wrestling in general and Indian wrestlers in particular.”
The court of Justice Prateek Jalan issued notice on the application and sought a response from the respondents.
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for the wrestlers, submitted before the court, “The proxy president (of WFI is) violating norms…selection trials are happening at the cost of wrestlers… There is an IOA ad hoc committee in place which is refusing to take over.”
The court has now posted the matter for further consideration on December 12.
Referring to an affidavit filed by the IOA on October 3, the wresters’ fresh application highlighted that as per the IOA’s submission, the “ad-hoc committee will not be set up”.
The national olympic association’s affidavit had said that “IOA has decided not to make any ad hoc committee in WFI and not to interfere in the autonomy of the WFI.”
Furthermore, it has been pointed out by the wrestlers that the WFI, “in contravention” of court orders, “conducted an illegally held talent search event where certain players emerged as winners” and the winners were selected to represent India in the U-23 World Championship held in Albania from October 21-27. It is the wrestlers’ case that the court has “clearly ordered that all the selections to the international competitions should be undertaken by the ad hoc committee – WFI through IOA…”
The wrestlers are also seeking that the WFI and its office bearers be directed to refrain from taking any steps towards holding selection trials.
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