Gauhati HC Stays Wrestling Federation of India Elections Scheduled On July 11
The Gauhati High Court on Sunday stayed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, scheduled for July 11, on the plea of the Assam Wrestling Association.
The Assam Wrestling Association had filed its petition against the WFI, the IOA’s ad-hoc panel and the sports ministry.
According to PTI, the Assam Wrestling Association argued that though it was entitled to be an affiliated member of the WFI, it was granted one "despite recommendation made by then WFI Executive Committee at WFI's General Council in Gonda, on November 15, 2014."
The ad-hoc panel has fixed June 25 as the last date for receiving the names for the electoral college while the elections to elect the new governing body would be held on July 11.
The petition stated that unless AWA is affiliated with the WFI, and can nominate their representative to the electoral college, the election process should be stalled.
The court directed the respondents -- WFI ad-hoc body and the Sports Ministry -- that till the next date is fixed for hearing they should not proceed with the elections of the Executive Committee of the WFI.
The court fixed July 17 as the next date for the hearing.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the IOA ad-hoc panel rescheduled the WFI elections to July 11 after five disaffiliated state bodies, seeking voting rights for the polls, presented their cases in a hearing.
The three-member panel, which includes retired high court judge MM Kumar, was approached by disaffiliated state bodies in Maharashtra, Haryana, Telangana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.
“The state units presented their case while the representatives of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) defended their decision to cancel affiliations of these bodies. The panel needs time to decide and prepare order, so polls have been pushed to July 11,” a source privy to the developments told PTI.
The ad-hoc panel had earlier announced that WFI elections will be held on July 6.