SLPs Against Stay On WFI Election: Apex Court Issues Notice

On October 13, 2023, the Supreme Court issued notice while hearing petitions for special leave to appeal[1] filed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) ad-hoc committee, which has taken control of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) office, challenging the stay on WFI elections issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The response from the Haryana Wrestling Association, the Haryana Olympic Association and others has been sought by November 3, 2023.

After the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued an order on September 25, 2023, holding that the stay on the elections would continue till the next date of the hearing, the ad-hoc committee approached the Supreme Court challenging the same.

Back in August 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed the SLPs filed by the Andhra Pradesh Amateur Wrestling Association, refusing to interfere with the matter pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The election for the WFI’s Executive Committee was earlier scheduled to be held on July 6 which was then postponed to July 11. A stay order on the same was issued by the Gauhati High Court in June, on a plea by the Assam Wrestling Association regarding the nomination of its representatives for the WFI election. This temporary suspension was lifted by the Supreme Court in the following month after which the Returning Officer scheduled the election on August 12. But the day before the election, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered it to be stayed.

The matter before the Punjab and Haryana High Court was listed on November 30, 2023.

[1] Ad hoc Committee Wrestling Federation of India vs. Haryana Wrestling Association & Ors. [SLP(C) Nos. 22728-22730/2023]