Delhi HC Today(on 9th April), issues notice to Sports Ministry on Wrestling Federation of India’s plea against suspension. Justice Subramonium Prasad grants four weeks for response, next hearing scheduled for May 28.
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DELHI: The Delhi High Court, Today(on 9th April), took a step by issuing a notice to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports regarding a plea filed by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). This plea challenges the suspension of WFI, an action that has sent ripples through the Indian sports sector.
Justice Subramonium Prasad, presiding over the matter, has allocated four weeks for the Central government to deliver a response, with the proceedings set to continue on May 28.
The Central government’s suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), announced on December 24, 2023, followed closely after Sanjay Singh, a close associate of former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, won the WFI elections, assuming leadership of the organization.
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The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports justified the suspension by citing the WFI’s swift and controversial decisions under its new leadership, alleging a disregard for established rules and regulations. Consequently, the Ministry requested the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to establish an ad-hoc body to oversee the operations of the WFI.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has dissolved the ad-hoc committee previously appointed to oversee the affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), adding further complexity to the situation.
Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, representing WFI, presented arguments before the Court, criticizing the Ministry’s order as a clear breach of the principles of natural justice and the National Sports Development Code of India, 2011. Krishnan emphasized that the suspension was imposed on WFI without prior notification, despite the Sports Code requiring a show-cause notice before any federation suspension.
Advocate Hemant Phalpher filed the plea challenging the Ministry’s order, initiating a significant legal confrontation that has the potential to reshape sports administration and governance in India. As the Delhi High Court prepares to examine the intricacies of this case, the sports community closely monitors the proceedings, recognizing the potential ramifications for the future of sports governance and the adherence to legal protocols in sports administration.
