Delhi High Court Stays Boxing Federation’s Order On Election Representation

In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court stayed an order by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), which had imposed a restriction on who could represent state units in the upcoming elections.

The BFI’s order had stipulated that only elected members of affiliated state units could participate in representing their states.

The court issued the stay on a petition filed by the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association, which challenged the new election rules.

Background & Court’s Order

The court’s decision to stay the BFI’s March 7 circular came after a hearing of the petition filed by the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association.

Justice Mini Pushkarna, presiding over the case, ordered a halt to the implementation of the BFI’s directive until the next hearing in August.

This ruling effectively delays the election process, as the BFI’s new guidelines restrict participation to only those members formally elected by their respective state units.

The petition highlighted the concerns over the exclusion of certain representatives, including BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who had been disqualified based on the new rules.

He violated the March 7 circular, rendering his nomination for the BFI elections invalid. Consequently, the election officer excluded his name from the final list.

Additionally, the election officer omitted the names of Rohit Jainendra Jain and Neeraj Kant Bhatt, who were forwarded by the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association, from the final list of electors.

Court’s Remarks & Future Proceedings

During the hearing, the court made it clear that while the election process must proceed, it will be subject to the outcome of the petition.

The court emphasized that despite the stay, the election process could continue, but the results would be contingent on the final ruling of the case.

The BFI’s circular, sent to all affiliated state units, stated that only formally elected members of state bodies would represent their regions during the upcoming elections.

This new rule led to significant unrest among certain associations, including the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association, which felt that the order was both arbitrary and unfair.

The court has now directed the central government and the Boxing Federation of India to submit their responses within four weeks.

This legal development comes at a crucial juncture for the BFI, which has been under scrutiny for its election process.

The next hearing in August will determine the long-term impact of this case on the future of the BFI’s election procedures and governance.

The Delhi High Court’s stay on the BFI’s order marks an important step in the legal battle over election representation within the federation.

With further proceedings set for August, the case continues to unfold, potentially reshaping how boxing elections are conducted in India.

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