Delhi HC Clears BFI Elections Amid Challenge to Constitution and Interim Committee’s Decisions

The Delhi High Court on Monday, August 18, 2025, allowed the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) to proceed with its elections scheduled for August 21.

Justice Mini Pushkarna, presiding over the matter, clarified that the elections would remain subject to the outcome of writ petitions filed by four state associations; Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Himachal Pradesh, challenging the decisions of BFI’s Interim Committee and the amended Constitution dated May 18, 2025.

“These elections are happening on August 21. I will hear the matter finally, I am not going to hear it in installments. You (BFI) go ahead with your elections, I have already made it clear that it will be subject to the outcome of the writ petition and in case you have done something which is not as per law, the court will take note of that and then pass orders. Sports is no longer sports, it is politics actually,” Court observed.

It was further added that the court was not granting any stamp of approval to the new Constitution.

The three state units, represented by advocate Chaitanya Mahajan, sought urgent judicial intervention to quash what they termed arbitrary and illegal actions of the respondent authorities concerning the conduct of elections to the BFI.

“The petition highlights the illegal promulgation of a new Constitution dated 18.05.2025, the issuance of an ultra vires election notice dated 31.07.2025, and the unilateral appointment of a Returning Officer; all actions vitiated by the absence of statutory authority, democratic process, and neutrality,” the plea stated.

The petitioners cited directives of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) requiring National Sports Federations to hold elections at least one month prior to the expiry of office-bearers tenure.

Notably, the term of BFI’s office-bearers ended on February 2, 2025, but elections were not announced within the mandated period.

On February 24, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to manage BFI’s affairs. However, this move was stayed by the High Court on March 3, 2025, on the grounds that it violated principles of natural justice and exceeded the powers of the IOA President.

Despite judicial scrutiny, the plea alleged that Mr. Ajay Singh, in his capacity as Chairman of the Interim Committee and as a contesting candidate for the post of President, issued the impugned notice dated July 31, 2025, convening the AGM and proposing elections on the basis of a new, unratified Constitution dated May 18, 2025.

“This Constitution was never approved by the General Body of BFI and was unilaterally adopted in complete disregard of participatory procedures under the Societies Registration Act and the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011,” the petitioners contended.

They further accused Mr. Singh of presiding over the election process while being an active participant, in violation of the principle of nemo judex in causa sua (no one can be a judge in their own cause).

“Various High Courts, on numerous occasions, have acknowledged such lapses and issued protective orders in favor of transparency and the democratic rights of State Associations. The actions now impugned are also violative of repeated directives issued by MYAS insisting on adherence to transparency, neutrality, and due process in elections of National Sports Federations,” the plea further stated.

The petition seeks directions declaring the notice dated July 31, 2025, issued by Mr. Ajay Singh in his capacity as Chairman of the Interim Committee, as illegal, void ab initio, and of no legal effect.

It also seeks directions to declare the Constitution dated May 18, 2025, allegedly approved by World Boxing, as illegal, ultra vires, null and void, having been promulgated without authority, ratification, or adherence to due process under the Societies Registration Act and the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011.

Additionally, the plea prays for directions to the Union of India through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and/or the Indian Olympic Association to ensure that elections to the Executive Committee of the BFI are conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner strictly in accordance with the Constitution dated June 24, 2022, and the Model Election Guidelines under the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011.

Case Title: HIMACHAL PRADESH BOXING ASSOCIATION & ANR. VERSUS UNION OF INDIA AND ORS

Hearing Date: 18 August 2025

Bench: Justice Mini Pushkarna

With PTI inputs