The Delhi High Court has listed the matter for further hearing on May 28.
The Delhi High Court has sought the Sports Ministry’s response to the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) petition challenging its suspension.
Justice Subramonium Prasad issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS Ministry) and asked it to file its response to the petition within four weeks.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on May 28.
The Sports Ministry had suspended WFI on December 24 last year, three days after the election of new office bearers, for allegedly failing to comply with the provisions of its own constitution.
Advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for WFI, argued that WFI was not issued any show cause notice before the decision to suspend it indefinitely was taken.
Krishnan argued that the hasty decision violates the constitutional provisions of the WFI as well as the National Sports Code which contemplates issuance of a show cause notice before such action. He added that this was against the principles of natural justice.
While suspending the WFI, the Sports Ministry had cited its “hasty announcement” of organizing the U-15 and U-20 national championships “without following the prescribed procedure and without giving sufficient notice to the wrestlers” for the preparations.
The ministry considered that the newly elected WFI was working under the control of its former officials, which was not in accordance with the National Sports Code.
Sanjay Singh, a close aide of BJP Lok Sabha MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who was accused by women wrestlers in a sexual harassment case, had succeeded him in the post.
Another High Court bench is set to hear the plea of four wrestlers, including Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia, seeking directions to the ministry not to revoke WFI’s suspension and appoint a single committee to take charge of the management and administration of the federation. This hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
