The Gauhati High Court has recently stayed the upcoming elections to the executive committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
Justice Nani Tagia passed the interim order in a plea alleging that the Assam Wrestling Association has not been affiliated with the WFI, thereby preventing their participation in the elections.
The Court has directed the WFI to halt the scheduled polls on July 11 and has sought responses from the WFI and the Union Sports Ministry. The case has been listed for hearing on July 17.
The plea was moved by the Assam Wrestling Association and the President of the Assam Olympic Association.
The petitioners argue that without affiliation, Assam wrestlers are unable to participate in national tournaments organized by the WFI, which adversely affects their interests.
The petitioners have requested a stay on the elections until the Assam Wrestling Association is included in the electoral college.
Notably, the resolution to grant affiliation to the Assam Wrestling Association was passed in 2014 under the chairmanship of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Recently, the Delhi Police filed a chargesheet against Singh, accusing him of various offenses related to the harassment of female wrestlers. Olympian wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat, previously staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding action against Singh.
