Gauhati High Court Stays Wrestling Federation Of India Elections Scheduled For 11 July

The Gauhati High Court on Sunday (25 June) stayed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections on a petition filed by the Assam Wrestling Association

The elections for WFI had already been postponed several times.

The Assam Wrestling Association filed a petition against the WFI, IOA ad-hoc panel, and the Sports Ministry, stating that it was entitled to be an affiliated member of the WFI but was not granted one.

According to the State unit, the WFI Executive Committee recommended their affiliation at the Federations' General Council in Gonda on 15 November 2014, but its recognition was denied, reports The Hindu.

The IOA ad-hoc panel had set 25 June as the deadline for receiving names for the electoral college, while the elections were scheduled for 11 July.

The petition contended that unless the WFI-affiliation of the Assam wrestling body, and they nominate a representative to the electoral college, the WFI election process should be halted,

The court instructed the WFI ad-hoc body and the Sports Ministry, the respondents in the case, to refrain from proceeding with the Executive Committee elections of the WFI until the next hearing date is set.

The next hearing date has been scheduled for 17 July by the court.

In its petition, the AWA claimed that it has been "actively involved" in promoting wrestling in the state and had organised various national and state-level tournaments at the "behest" of the WFI.

Despite making several efforts, the State association did not receive recognition, according to the petition.

AWA stated that they cannot nominate their representative to the electoral college for the upcoming elections unless they receive affiliation from the WFI.

The petition highlights that the State of Assam will not have a representative in the election of the executive committee of the WFI, and its wrestlers will be unable to participate in national tournaments.

The WFI before being suspended by the Sports Ministry had set 7 May as the election date.

After meeting with protesting wrestlers, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had said that WFI elections will be held by 30 June.

The IOA then announced that elections will be held on 4 July but the Returning Officer set 6 July as the new date.

However, after five disaffiliated State bodies staked claim to be eligible for voting, the Returning Officer yet again delayed the elections by five days, setting 11 July as the poll date.