Delhi High Court Stays BFI’s March 7 Circular On Election Representation

Election Representation

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday temporarily stayed the Boxing Federation of India’s March 7 circular, which mandated that only elected representatives from affiliated state units could participate in the federation’s upcoming elections.

The ruling allows the election process to continue, but results will remain subject to the court’s final decision.

Court’s Ruling

Justice Mini Pushkarna, presiding over the case, stated that while the elections and result declaration should proceed, the results will be provisional until the ongoing petition is resolved. The court has also issued notices to the Central Government and the BFI, asking them to respond within four weeks. The next hearing is scheduled for August 2025.

Petition By The Association

The Delhi Amateur Boxing Association (DABA) filed the petition, arguing that the BFI circular and decisions made by the Returning Officer unfairly excluded DABA from the Electoral College for the elections, scheduled for March 28, 2025.

One of the key controversies surrounding the election is the disqualification of BJP MP Anurag Thakur. His nomination was rejected for violating the March 7 circular, leading to his exclusion from the final list of approved candidates. Additionally, the Returning Officer’s electoral list did not include names proposed by the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association.

More Into the Case

In a related development, the Delhi High Court also issued a stay on the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) decision to establish an ad-hoc committee to oversee the BFI until elections are held. The BFI challenged the IOA’s February 24 order, calling it arbitrary and unlawful.

The federation argued that it is an independent body governed by its own constitution, rules, and regulations, and has the exclusive authority to regulate, promote, and manage boxing in India.