SUNDAY SHOCKER FOR BRIJ BHUSHAN

Guahati High Court directs ad-hoc panel not to proceed with election process, fixes July 17 as next date of hearing

- FIROZ MIRZA

ON a day, which coincidentally was the last date to receive names for the electoral college to hold the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) election, the Gauhati High Court has directed the respondents not to proceed with the polls.

The order was issued on a writ petition by the Assam Wrestling Association against the ad-hoc body formed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to run the day-to-day affairs of the WFI. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is also one of the respondents in the petition. The WFI election was scheduled on July 11 while the court has fixed July 17 as the next date for the hearing effectively postponing the poll process at least till that date.

As per the initial announcement by the returning officer Justice MM Kumar, former chief justice of the J&K High Court, the election was scheduled to be held on July 6. However, it was extended by five days after the returning officer heard five state units claiming the right to send their nominations for the electoral college. Assam and Meghalaya too made claims but their pleas were not considered by the returning of ficer who felt it was not within their mandate to grant recognition to any party. Following the refusal, the Assam unit moved the court.