The Delhi High Court has issued a notice in response to a plea seeking directions for the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) ad hoc committee to conduct fresh selection trials for upcoming wrestling competitions. The ad hoc committee was appointed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in December 2023 after the Union Sports Ministry suspended the Sanjay Singh-led WFI from managing the federation’s activities.
The ministry’s order also directed the IOA to form an ad hoc committee to oversee WFI affairs, including athlete selection and international event entries. However, the IOA disbanded the committee in March 2023, citing the lifting of WFI’s ban by the United World Wrestling (UWW) and the successful completion of selection trials.
On August 16, 2023, the High Court restored the ad hoc committee’s mandate and ordered the IOA to reinstate it. The court has now sought responses from the sports ministry, the Sanjay Singh-led WFI, and the WFI ad hoc committee in an application filed by four wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia.
The wrestlers argue that WFI has been conducting selection trials in violation of the court’s August 16 order, which directed the ad hoc committee to manage such affairs. They claim that this action prejudices the rights of Indian wrestlers who deserve a fair and transparent selection process.
The application also highlights the IOA’s failure to comply with the court’s order to reinstate the ad hoc committee. This non-compliance, they argue, undermines the principles of transparency and accountability in the governance of National Sports Federations (NSFs) as mandated by the Sports Code.
The court has set December 12 as the next date of hearing. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the management and governance of WFI and the selection process for Indian wrestlers in upcoming competitions.
