Delhi HC seeks Sports Ministry reply on Wrestling Federation of India's suspension plea
Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) challenging its suspension, seeking the central government's response in four weeks. The matter will now be heard on May 28. On December 24, 2023, the central government had suspended the wrestling federation, three days after the Federation conducted its election, and sexual harassment accused BJP MP Brij Bhushan Saran Singh's close aide Sanjay Singh emerged as the winner.
The election result saw ace grappler Sakshee Malikkh ‘quit’ In protest. Medalists Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat returned their national awards on the Kartavya Path after they were not allowed to go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence. The Sports Minister termed it as “complete disregard of rules and regulations" and “hasty decisions taken by the WFI".
It then directed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to establish ad hoc body to oversee and manage the WFI's operations. Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan stated that the sports ministry suspended that WFI without notice. Following this, the WFI challenged its suspension, saying the ministry violated the National Sports Code and the WFI constitution.
The WFI argued that it neither accepts the suspension nor does it recognise the ad hoc panel that has been constituted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to manage the day-to-day affairs of the sport. However, the ad hoc committee for wrestling was later dissolved by IOA saying "there is no further need" of the panel following the withdrawal of the suspension on the WFI by the United World Wrestling (UWW), which has now got complete administrative control of wrestling in the country. "The decision to dissolve the Adhoc Committee comes in light of the lifting of the ban on the Wrestling Federation of India
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