Stay on WFI Election Extended till Sept 25, SC Refuses to Interfere with HC’s Decision

In an order dated August 29, 2023, the Supreme Court in the case of Andhra Pradesh Amateur Wrestling Association v. Haryana Wrestling Association and Ors. [SLP(C) Nos. 019502 – 019503/ 2023] declined to interfere with the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, issuing a stay on the election of the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) Executive Committee.

The Apex Court believed that the petitioner should have applied to the High Court for impleadment or intervention and for vacating the interim stay instead of filing the special leave petitions (SLPs) in the present case.

A day before the WFI elections were scheduled to be held (i.e., on August 11, 2023), the Punjab and Haryana High Court postponed the same till the next date of hearing, i.e., August 28, 2023, and subsequently extended the stay on the elections till September 25.[1] In this case, the petition filed was pertaining to the exclusion of representatives nominated by the Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association for the electoral college of WFI.

In the upcoming World Wrestling Championships 2023, which are scheduled to be held from September 16 to 24 in Belgrade, Serbia, Indian wrestlers will not be able to compete under the national flag as the WFI was provisionally suspended by the United World Wrestling (UWW) on August 24 for failing to hold its elections on time.

[1] Haryana Wrestling Association v. Union of India and Ors. (CWP No.16935/2023)