The Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 29, 2023), declined to intervene in the Punjab and Haryana High Court order staying the elections of the Wrestling Federation of India.
An Apex court bench of Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Pankaj Mithal declined to entertain the plea filed by the Andhra Pradesh Amateur Wrestling Association.
Andhra Pradesh Amateur Wrestling Association had in its plea submitted – that not having the elections is a matter of “national shame“. It said the WFI had now been suspended by the world wrestling organisation, United World Wrestling, ahead of the World Championships, which would be held from September 16 to 24.
What the court said
The bench said, “Instead of applying to the high court for interim relief, the petitioner has chosen to file this appeal on August 17. We decline to entertain this special leave petition. However, It will be open for the petitioner to be impleaded before the high court and file an application for vacation of stay”.
The court directed the petitioner to file the plea with the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court’s interim ruling was challenged by the Andhra Pradesh Amateur Wrestling Association through counsel Anuj Tyagi.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court decision came in response to a case filed by the Haryana Wrestling Association (HWA) challenging the decision to allow the Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association to vote in WFI elections.
Appearing for Andhra Pradesh Seshadri Naidu said
Senior attorney Dama Seshadri Naidu, appearing for the Andhra Pradesh wrestling organisation, informed the Supreme Court that the stay had resulted in the suspension of WFI by the international body.
“This is a national disgrace,” Naidu said, adding that Indian wrestlers will not be allowed to compete under the Indian flag at the World Championships (in Belgrade), an Olympic qualifying event, and will instead be entered as “neutral athletes.”
The Court directed Naidu to file an appeal with the Supreme Court to have its ruling vacated. “We are confident that the high court will give the matter the necessary importance,” the bench stated. The Punjab and Haryana High Court granted a stay on the Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association’s suit challenging its participation in the electoral college. Ranjit Kumar, a prominent counsel, represented the HWA before the Supreme Court.
It should be noteworthy that some wrestlers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik, had been protesting seeking former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh’s arrest for alleged sexual harassment of seven wrestlers, including a minor.
Read More: Chargesheet Filed Against Outgoing WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh