The Supreme Court's recent decision overturning the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court has paved the way for the resumption of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections. The anticipated notification for the elections is likely to be issued on or after December 8, the designated date for any modifications to the electoral college.
The election process, initiated in July, faced delays due to legal challenges, resulting in the suspension of the WFI by the international federation, United World Wrestling. The Supreme Court's intervention, setting aside the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, has cleared the path for the WFI elections.
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An ad-hoc panel, constituted by the Indian Olympic Association and led by Bhupender Singh Bajwa, is currently overseeing the day-to-day operations of the WFI. This arrangement was put in place after the sports ministry suspended the federation led by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment raised by prominent Indian wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik.
With the Supreme Court's approval, the returning officer, Justice (retd) MM Kumar, convened a meeting on November 30. The meeting aimed to ascertain if there were any changes to the electoral college outlined on July 25, 2023. Bajwa was given one week to provide any relevant updates, and a final notification for the elections is expected to be issued post December 8.
The resolution of the legal hurdles sets the stage for the restoration of the WFI governance through democratic elections.
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