Bajrang Punia, wrestlers approach Delhi HC over WFI Ad Hoc Committee delay, court issues notice

New Delhi [India], November 13 : Wrestler Bajrang Punia and others on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court for its intervention to appoint an independent administrator to manage the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), including overseeing selection trials.
The bench of Justice Prateek Jalan issued notices to all the respondents and listed the matter for December 12.
This application comes after the court's previous order in August, which called for the reconstitution of an ad hoc committee by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
The committee was tasked with supervising WFI operations, including selections and trials, following the suspension of the WFI's newly elected executive committee by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in 2023.
The plea, filed by the petitioners, seeks the appointment of a one-man committee to take over the management of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).
In an August order, the court restored the mandate of the ad-hoc committee originally appointed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on December 27, 2023.
The court had also allowed the third respondent, the ad-hoc committee, through the IOA, the discretion to reconstitute a new multi-member body comprising eminent sportspersons and experts with experience in dealing with International Federations.
Through fresh plea, wrestlers/petitioners have sought directions from the Delhi High Court for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ad-hoc committee to manage and control the affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), as outlined in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) communication dated December 24, 2023.
Alternatively, the petitioners request the court to consider appointing a retired judge from the Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, or any other High Court as an administrator to oversee the WFI's operations.
Additionally, the plea urges the court to direct the respondents to conduct fresh selection trials for upcoming competitions in strict compliance with the Government of India's December 24, 2023 letter, within one week, as previously assured in contempt proceedings.
The petition further prays for an order preventing the WFI, its office-bearers, members, employees, and any associated individuals from holding any selection trials that would violate the court's previous orders or judgments.
In August, the Delhi High Court reinstated the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) ad hoc committee, appointed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), to oversee and manage the federation's affairs. While passing an interim order on the petition filed by celebrated wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and her husband Satyawart Kadian, the court stated that it was open to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) reconstituting the committee.