WFI Challenges Delhi High Court's Ruling on Ad Hoc Committee Authority

WFI Challenges Delhi High Court's Ruling on Ad Hoc Committee Authority

16 days ago | 5 Views

New Delhi: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has submitted an appeal to a two-judge panel of the Delhi High Court, contesting a ruling made by a single judge that reinstated the authority of the ad hoc committee established by the International Olympic Association (IOA) to oversee the federation's operations.

The case was scheduled for hearing before acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela on Thursday; however, it was postponed until December 18 due to the absence of legal representation for wrestler Bajrang Punia.

In its appeal, the WFI contended that the single judge did not adequately consider the federation's essential participation in various international competitions necessary for qualifying for the World Championships. The WFI further argued that the judge incorrectly assumed it was appropriate to intervene in the governance of United World Wrestling (UWW) following the conclusion of the Olympics. Moreover, the appeal asserted that the judge granted remedies that were not requested in the wrestlers' writ, which justified annulment on this basis.

The appeal stated, “The single judge has overlooked the fact that the revocation of the WFI's suspension was contingent upon having an elected body in place, and substituting it with a third party would likely result in another suspension from the UWW.”

The IOA appointed the ad hoc committee on December 27 of the previous year after the sports ministry had prohibited the WFI, led by Sanjay Singh, from managing the federation's activities. In its order dated December 24, the ministry directed the IOA to form an ad hoc committee to oversee the WFI's affairs. However, on March 18 of this year, the IOA dissolved the ad hoc committee, stating that it was “no longer necessary.”

The WFI's appeal seeks to overturn the August 16 ruling by Justice Sachin Datta, which reinstated the mandate of the ad hoc committee. The high court deemed the committee's dissolution as “unwarranted” and “incongruous,” granting the IOA the authority to reconstitute the ad hoc committee.

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