NEW DELHI: The scheduled Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections set for Saturday have been stayed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday.
The stay has been given following a petition filed by the HWA, challenging the move to allow the Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association to cast votes in the WFI polls.
The core issue in the petition revolves around the eligibility of the Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association to participate in the WFI polls.
The HWA, represented by Advocate Ravinder Malik, asserts that it is a registered society in the state and holds affiliation with the WFI. In accordance with the WFI's rules and constitution, any registered affiliated body is entitled to send two representatives to vote in the WFI elections.
However, a competing entity, the Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association, claims dual affiliations with both the WFI and the Haryana Olympic Association. It contests that the HWA lacks the right to engage in the election process due to its alleged non-affiliation with the WFI.
The Haryana Wrestling Association, led by Member of Parliament Deepinder Hooda, believes that it has a valid standing in the WFI elections and has taken legal action to secure its participation. The High Court has decided to halt the elections until this matter is further reviewed and clarified.
"The returning officer has given the finding in favour of Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association, saying they fulfil the condition of affiliation with WFI as well as Haryana Olympic Association," said the advocate.
"We have challenged the returning officer's order in the HC, saying that the Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association may be affiliated with the WFI but it is not affiliated with the HOA, meaning they are not entitled to participate in the poll process," said Malik, representing HWA.
"In case, Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association is allowed to participate in the election process, then it will cause prejudice as well as the WFI elections will be illegal," he said.
The court has taken note of it and said lest it should cause prejudice to anybody, prima facie, it seems Haryana Amateur Wrestling Association is not eligible to cast votes.
The court of justice Vinod S Bhardwaj of the HC has stayed the elections of the WFI.
(With PTI inputs)
