Bengaluru: Anurag Thakur's attempt to run in the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) elections gained momentum following a ruling from the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Thursday. The court determined that the current president of the federation, Ajay Singh, acted "without any authority and power" when he dismissed Thakur's nomination from the Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association (HPBA).

Justice Ajay Mohan Goel instructed the BFI to extend the nomination deadline, allowing Thakur to submit his candidacy on behalf of the HPBA and to "fully participate" in the BFI's annual general meeting. The court noted that the election process would be contingent upon the final decision regarding the writ petition submitted by the HPBA.

Additionally, the court suspended a notice issued by Ajay Singh on March 7, which had invalidated nominations from individuals not elected as members of a state unit. After the HPBA submitted Thakur's nomination for the electoral college, Singh rejected it based on his March 7 notice, asserting that allowing states to nominate unelected representatives contravened federation bylaws and the national sports code.

Justice Goel stated, "This court has no hesitation in holding that prima facie it is evident that the notice dated 07.03.2025 has been issued by respondent No.2 (BFI) without any authority and without any power."

This ruling followed a decision by the Delhi High Court, which had temporarily halted the BFI's March 7 notice. The Delhi court acted on a petition from the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association, which sought to annul that notice, while clarifying that the BFI's election process would proceed.

In its petition to the Himachal High Court, the HPBA argued that Singh lacked the authority to issue such a notice since his presidential term had ended. The association, represented by senior advocate Abhinav Mukerji, contended that the notice was arbitrary and lacked legal basis.

The court accepted this argument, stating that BFI regulations clearly stipulate that decisions regarding nominations and elections must be made by its governing body.

The Himachal HC said that BFI’s electoral college consisted of representatives of each member association and that there was no rule that mandated that such representatives must be elected members of state units.

The tenure of Singh and other office-bearers had ended on February 2. The elections were delayed and the Indian Olympic Association announced an ad hoc committee oversee the sport. However, the Delhi HC stayed the IOA decision after BFI said it was initiating the election process.

Singh, chairman of SpiceJet, is seeking a third term as BFI president.

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