The Delhi High Court on Monday permitted the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) to go ahead with its scheduled elections on August 21 but made it clear that the process will remain subject to the outcome of the ongoing legal proceedings.
Justice Mini Pushkarna, while hearing pleas filed by the Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association, Madhya Pradesh Amateur Boxing Association, and Gujarat Boxing Association, emphasised that the elections would not have the court’s stamp of approval at this stage. The associations have challenged the decision of BFI’s interim committee to conduct the polls and questioned the validity of its new constitution.
“These elections are happening on August 21. I will hear the matter finally, I am not going to hear it in installments. You (BFI) go ahead with your elections, I have already made it clear that it will be subject to the outcome of the writ petition,” Justice Pushkarna observed. She further cautioned that any action contrary to law or the National Sports Code would invite judicial intervention. “Sports is no longer sports, it is politics actually,” the court remarked.
The petitioners have sought the court’s intervention to quash BFI’s actions, alleging illegal promulgation of a new constitution on May 18, issuance of an ultra vires election notice on July 31, and unilateral appointment of a returning officer. They argued that these steps violated the governing framework for sports bodies in India.
Earlier, the Delhi Amateur Boxing Federation had also approached the court seeking a stay on BFI’s circular notifying the elections. The High Court has listed the matter for final hearing on September 23.
The tenure of the previous BFI office-bearers ended on February 2. Elections, originally scheduled for March 28, were stalled due to a series of legal challenges and counter-appeals. The election officer, former Delhi High Court judge R.K. Gauba, subsequently resigned in April citing a smear campaign against him.
Following the turmoil, World Boxing, the international governing body, appointed an interim committee in April to manage BFI’s affairs and imposed a deadline of August 31 to complete the election process.
With the High Court allowing the polls to proceed but keeping the matter sub judice, the outcome of the August 21 elections will ultimately hinge on the court’s final decision next month.
