WFI elections postponed again after Haryana wrestling association's plea

The rescheduled elections for the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) have once again been postponed after the Punjab and Haryana High Court put a stay on Friday. The elections were scheduled to be held on August 12 but now stand postponed due to a petition filed over voting rights by the Haryana Wrestling Association. This is not the first time the WFI polls have been delayed as they were earlier postponed following a similar petition filed by the Assam Wrestling Association (AWA). 

3 things you need to know

• The Punjab and Haryana High Court has put a stay order on the rescheduled WFI elections
• The polls were scheduled to be held on August 12 but have now been delayed
• The decision was taken after the state approached the court seeking voting rights

Also Read: Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat Making Efforts To Ensure Sanjay Singh Doesn't Become WFI Chief: Source

WFI Elections undergo another reschedule

The scheduled date for the WFI (Wrestling Federation of India) election, initially set for July 6th, has once again been rescheduled. This decision came about due to the intervention of the Haryana Wrestling Association, which approached the High Court seeking inclusion of voting rights in the elections. Notably, last month, the Gauhati High Court had put a hold on the WFI polls following a similar petition from the Assam Wrestling Association.

Also Read: Hugging a woman without sexual intent not an offence, outgoing WFI chief tells court 

The advocate representing HWA said that one more body, the Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association, has claimed that it was affiliated with the WFI as well as Haryana Olympic Association.

Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association further claimed that the HWA has no business to participate in the election process because it is not affiliated with the WFI.

"The returning officer has given the finding in favour of Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association, saying they fulfil the condition of affiliation with WFI as well as Haryana Olympic Association," said the advocate.

"We have challenged the returning officer's order in the HC, saying that the Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association may be affiliated with the WFI but it is not affiliated with the HOA, meaning they are not entitled to participate in the poll process," said Malik, representing HWA.

"In case, Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association is allowed to participate in the election process, then it will cause prejudice as well as the WFI elections will be illegal," he said.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been sidelined from WFI, has reached the end of three consecutive tenures as the organization's chief and thus, isn't eligible to stand for re-election. Even if Bhushan were eligible, the Sports Ministry would have barred his participation due to the serious allegations he is currently facing. Numerous wrestlers have publicly accused Brij Bhushan, who also holds a parliamentary position within the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), of engaging in harassment and sexual abuse.

With PTI Inputs