THE DELHI HIGH COURT on Monday allowed the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) to proceed with its elections scheduled for 21 August, while clarifying that the process remains subject to the outcome of ongoing litigation.
Justice Mini Pushkarna noted that the election could be set aside if found unlawful. The court was hearing pleas from the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association, Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association, Madhya Pradesh Amateur Boxing Association and Gujarat Boxing Association, which have challenged both the decision of the BFI’s interim committee to conduct polls and the validity of its newly adopted constitution.
The Delhi Amateur Boxing Association (DABA) argued that the electoral process was illegal as it relied on a constitution unilaterally amended without mandatory ratification. It also claimed the amendment—requiring contesting candidates to be elected members of state units at the time of polls—contradicted a prior court order that had stayed a similar circular.
Advocate Chaitanya Mahajan, representing the three state units, further contended that the formation of the interim committee itself violated World Boxing’s directive mandating the inclusion of a nominee from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
The IOA informed the court that it had provided recommendations to ensure free and fair elections. Meanwhile, the Union sports ministry argued that the amended constitution lacked legal validity, as it had not been adopted in accordance with BFI’s by-laws.
Counsel for the BFI interim committee countered that the constitution had been approved by World Boxing and accepted by 30 of the 34 state units.
The elections, initially scheduled for 28 March, were delayed due to litigation that led World Boxing to appoint an interim committee headed by then BFI president Ajay Singh. On 31 July, Singh issued a notice convening an annual general meeting (AGM) under the amended statute, mandating that candidates be elected members of their respective state or union territory associations. A day later, Justice (Retd) Rajesh Tandon was appointed as the Returning Officer. Singh resigned as interim head on 2 August to contest the polls, prompting World Boxing to name Fairuz Mohamed as interim chair.
“In case this court, at the time of final hearing of the matters, comes to the conclusion that there have been violations of the national sports code or BFI’s constitution has been amended in a wrongful manner, appropriate orders shall be passed by this court. It is further clarified that no special equity shall be claimed by the newly elected executive of the BFI,” the court said in its order.
