The Delhi High Court on March 4 requested responses from both the Centre and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) regarding a petition filed by wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and her husband Satyawart Kadian. They are seeking to have the December 2023 elections conducted by the sports body declared illegal and invalidated.
Next hearing set for March 7
Justice Sachin Datta told the Central government, WFI, and the Ad-Hoc Committee of WFI about the wrestlers' request. The court gave time to the Central government's lawyer, Anil Soni, to find out more about the case. The next hearing for this request is scheduled for March 7.
The wrestlers, represented by senior advocate Rahul Mehra, led last year's protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding the arrest of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment of seven women wrestlers.
Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan represented the WFI.
The petition argued that the WFI elections, held on December 21, 2023, blatantly violated the Sports Code and requested the federation to refrain from engaging in any wrestling-related activities.
Sanjay Kumar Singh, a close associate of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, was elected as the new president of the WFI during the election.
"The petitioner prays the court may be pleased to set aside and declare elections held by R2/WFI on December 21, 2023 as illegal and void ab-initio since the same has been held in blatant violation of the sports code," the petition said.
Petitioners alleged WFI's wrongdoings
"The present writ petition is being filed by the petitioners inter alia assailing, challenging, and seeking directions against the illegal action of the suspended Wrestling Federation of India conducting selection trials for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships 2024 and Asian Olympic Games Qualifier Wrestling Tournament notified through its circular dated February 26, 2024 against the directives of the ad-hoc Committee for Wrestling Federation of India," the petition said.
"The petitioners would like to place on record that apart from them, there are many other athletes/wrestlers who are also facing similar harassment owing to their upright/honest stand against respondent no. 2/WFI and its officials over the illegalities by respondent no.2 in collusion and under instructions of respondent no. 2's/WFI former President and member of Parliament from Kaiserganj constituency namely Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.”
Wrestlers allege WFI silencing tactics
The petitioners have alleged that the WFI is attempting to silence and marginalise them, affecting their opportunities to compete in international events.
"Every possible means have been deployed by respondent no. 2/WFI to muffle the voices of the protesting petitioners and deprive them from any future scope of participation at the international level irrespective of their merit and competence," it added.
The petitioners have requested that the ad-hoc committee continue to oversee the day-to-day operations and management of the WFI or appoint a retired Supreme Court judge as an administrator to assume control of the organisation.
The petition alleged that the WFI has repeatedly violated directives from the Sports Ministry and the ad-hoc committee, earning a reputation as a 'habitual offender' and harming the career prospects of Indian wrestlers.
(Powered by AI, inputs by PTI)
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