Delhi High Court order 'Reinstate the ad hoc committee formed for the Wrestling Federation of India',
Delhi High Court order
'Reinstate the ad hoc committee formed for the Wrestling Federation of India',
The Delhi High Court has
reinstated the ad hoc committee of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formed
to run the affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). And this
decision has come on the petition of wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat,
Sakshi Malik and her husband Satyavrat Kadian. And this committee was formed
after the federation's elections in December.
The court said in the
interim order that the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) decision to dissolve
the ad hoc committee is not in accordance with the Union Sports Ministry's
order to suspend the WFI immediately after the elections held in December. And
also said that until the suspension order is withdrawn, it is necessary for the
ad hoc committee to handle the affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India.
And Justice Sachin Dutta of
the court has rejected the petitioners' plea to appoint a retired Justice of
the High Court or Supreme Court as the administrator of the Wrestling
Federation of India (WFI) and the court said that the Indian Olympic
Association (IOA) can reconstitute the ad hoc committee.
The Delhi High Court said
that the court has come to the conclusion that it was unfair to dissolve the ad
hoc committee, and also said that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) can
reconstitute the ad hoc committee, and it should be ensured that it is a
multi-member body. And it should include eminent players or experts. The court
made it clear that the ad hoc committee will continue to function only as long
as the order of 24 December 2023 issued by the Sports Ministry remains in
force. And the court said that the Central Ministry will be free to withdraw or
review the said order. The court's order will not be deemed to be a hindrance
in this regard.
And the court considered the
dissolution of the ad hoc committee to be inappropriate because the order of 24
December 2023 issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in relation to
WFI is still in force. And the court does not have any such record, and from
which it can be concluded that the reasons for which this order was issued,
that they have been overcome or resolved. And the court said that until the
suspension order of 24 December 2023 is reconsidered, reviewed or withdrawn, an
ad hoc committee is needed to manage the affairs of WFI.
And let us tell you that the court has given this direction while giving its decision on the application filed by wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and others in February 2024 this year. That in this application, a ban was sought on the functioning and operation of (WFI). And the order on this application was reserved in May this year and recently the matter was presented before the High Court and it was said that the order would be pronounced soon.
