Gauhati High Court Stays WFI Elections

In an order dated June 25, 2023, the Gauhati High Court in the case of Assam Wrestling Association & Anr. vs. Wrestling Federation of India & Anr. [WP(C) No.3757/2023] stayed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) election.

In its plea, petitioner no. 1, Assam Wrestling Association, submitted that it was entitled to be affiliated as a member of the WFI as per the federation’s constitution. It was stated that the Executive Committee made a recommendation to this effect to the General Council of the WFI in November 2014, but a final decision has not been taken yet.

Through a notification dated June 13, 2023, the Returning Officer specified that the election for the WFI’s Executive Committee would be held on July 6, but the same was later postponed to July 11. It was contended that petitioner no. 1 would not be able to nominate its representatives to take part in the said election unless it was affiliated with the WFI.

Moreover, the State’s wrestlers wouldn’t get a chance to participate in any of the national tournaments organised by the WFI. Hence, the present writ petition was filed seeking a direction to restrain the respondents from proceeding with the WFI election without issuing a certificate of affiliation to the Assam Wrestling Association.

After hearing the parties, the Single Judge Bench of Justice Nani Tagia directed the respondents not to proceed with the election of the Executive Committee of the WFI till further order.

The matter has been listed for July 17, 2023.