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The court also emphasized that, since the Paris Olympic Games 2024 had already concluded, there was no reason for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to feel restricted in making or implementing the necessary decisions regarding whether the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India should continue and/or whether an ad-hoc committee was needed to manage the affairs.
The Delhi High Court, on Friday, dismissed the plea filed by wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Satyawart Kadian seeking the institution of a retired judge as administrator of the ad-hoc committee of the Wrestling Federation of India.
“This Court is not inclined to accept the prayer of the petitioner to the effect that any retired judge of this Court or the Supreme Court be appointed as the administrator”, the bench of Justice Sachin Dutta held.
A writ petition was filed concerning the management of affairs by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The primary grievance, outlined in the writ petition, related to the alleged illegal actions of WFI in attempting to conduct selection trials for the Senior Asian Wrestling Championship 2024 and the Asian Olympic Games Qualifier Wrestling Tournament, as notified through a circular dated February 26, 2024.
Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the wrestlers, asserted that WFI did not comply with the National Sports Development Code, 2011 (referred to as the Sports Code), as interpreted by a Division Bench of this Court in its judgment dated August 16, 2022. The writ petition averred that the responsibility of ensuring full compliance with the Sports Code by WFI and its affiliated members rested solely with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS).
Furthermore, Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra requested the constitution of a "One-Man Committee" to take over the management, control, and administration of WFI, with further consequential directions regarding the mandate of such Committee
The court noted that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) could reconstitute the committee to ensure it comprised multiple members, including eminent sportspersons or experts experienced in dealing with International Federations, to address any concerns raised by the United World Wrestling (UWW).
Furthermore, the Court stated that the MYAS could withdraw its December 12, 2023 order, which had instructed the IOA to form the ad hoc committee. It clarified that the committee would continue to function until the order issued by MYAS on December 24, 2023, remained in effect. The ministry was free to withdraw or review the order if necessary, and the court's decision should not be interpreted as imposing any restrictions in this matter.
Accordingly, the court dismissed the petition.
For Petitioners: Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra with Advocates Siddharth Nayak, Chaitanya Gosain and Raghav KhannaFor Union: Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta and Standing Counsel Anil Soni with Advocates Devvrat Yadav and Diva SaigalFor WFI: Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan with Advocates Hemant Phalpher, Sukrit Seth and Auritro MukherjeeFor IOA: Advocates Sagar Chaurasia and Vikas Singh
Case Title: Bajrang Punia And Ors. v Union Of India And Ors (2024:DHC:6164)
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