Delhi HC Restores Mandate Of IOA Ad Hoc Panel On Plea Seeking Stay On WFI’s Functioning

The Delhi High Court on Friday reinstated the mandate of the Indian Olympic Association’s ad hoc committee for the Wrestling Federation of India. This decision came amid a plea seeking to halt the WFI’s current operations and prevent it from acting as the national federation for the sport.

Justice Sachin Datta, passing the interim order, noted that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) could reconstitute the committee if needed. This order followed a plea from prominent wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and her husband Satyawart Kadian.

The wrestlers earlier protested at Jantar Mantar demanding the arrest of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who faced allegations of sexual harassment. They sought to have the elections held in December 2023, which saw Sanjay Singh elected as WFI chief, declared illegal.

In their plea, the wrestlers asked for a stay on the WFI’s operations and sought to prevent it from functioning as a national federation. The Centre had suspended the WFI on December 24, 2023, for not adhering to its constitution and asked the IOA to set up an ad hoc committee to manage the federation’s affairs.

However, in February, the world wrestling body UWW lifted the WFI’s suspension, leading the IOA to dissolve its ad hoc committee in March. On March 4, the court had issued notices to the central government, WFI, and the ad hoc committee regarding the wrestlers’ petition.

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