Sports Ministry revoked WFI's suspension as per High Court o
Sports Ministry revoked WFI's suspension as per High Court order: Mansukh Mandaviya
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was lifted following an order by the Delhi High Court for the better future of wrestlers
NEW DELHI — Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
said the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was lifted
following an order by the Delhi High Court for the better future of wrestlers.
"As per the High Court order, the ministry decided
to lift the sanctions so that our wrestlers can participate in the Asian and
World Championships. This also gives justice looking at the future of our
wrestlers," Mandaviya told reporters on Tuesday.
The ministry lifted its suspension on the WFI on Tuesday,
giving control back to president Sanjay Singh, who is a close aide of former
federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh - the BJP MP accused of sexually
harassing women wrestlers. The decision also allows the WFI to hold domestic
tournaments and select national teams for international tournaments.
Sanjay Singh confirmed that WFI will conduct wrestling
trials on March 15 in New Delhi. "Such good news for all the wrestling
lovers. We will be holding wrestling trials on March 15 in Delhi," he told
IANS.
The Sports Ministry suspended the Sanjay Singh-led
federation three days after the elections over the announcement to hold U15 and
U20 nationals and has asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to establish a
temporary panel to oversee the operations of the WFI.
On December 21, 2023, the day Sanjay assumed the role of
WFI president, he declared that national trials for wrestling in the U-15 and
U-20 categories would be conducted in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda. The suspension led
to the formation of the Ad-hoc committee constituted by the IOA to oversee the day-to-day
operations of the WFI.
The ministry, in its letter, has also mentioned the
directions to run the federations. “The WFI must revert the amendments carried
out during the suspension period and have a balance of power among the
designated office-bearers and provide checks and balance in the decision-making
process, and this process should be completed in four weeks.“
"Any person who is not elected as an office-bearer,
as also the suspended/terminated salaried officials of the WFI, must remain
completely disassociated from the Federation and its affiliate units. The EC of
WFI must give an undertaking in this regard within four weeks. Any violation of
the undertaking will invite appropriate legal action, including action under
the Sports Code.
“The WFI must ensure that selection for all international
events should be done in a free, fair, and transparent manner as per the extant
provisions of the Sports Code and the other latest instructions issued in this
regard along with regulations issued from time to time by the UWW," the
letter read.
