The Supreme Court issued a stay order on Tuesday halting the Gauhati High Court’s decision to put the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections on hold.
A bench comprising Justice Aniruddha Bose and S V Bhatti issued notices to the Union Sports Ministry, Wrestling Federation of India, Assam Wrestling Association, and others in response to a plea challenging the high court’s June 25 order.
Representing the petitioner, the Andhra Pradesh Amateur Wrestling Association, counsel informed the bench that a third party had appeared before the high court on Sunday and obtained a stay on the matter. This delay was causing a setback in the WFI elections.
Responding to the situation, the bench issued notices and stayed the high court’s order. The high court had scheduled the next hearing for the petition, filed by the Assam Wrestling Association, on July 28.
Originally, the WFI elections were planned for July 11, but the Gauhati High Court had suspended the polls following the plea from the Assam Wrestling Association (AWA) seeking the right to participate in the election process. The state association claimed that it deserved to be an affiliated member of the WFI with voting rights, as recommended by its Executive Committee on November 15, 2014. However, the national federation denied its recognition.
On the last date for submitting names for the electoral college, June 25, the Gauhati High Court stayed the polls.
