Bombay High Court Directs WFI To Decide Plea Against Dissolution Of Sharad Pawar-Led Committee Of State Wrestling Association

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Maharashtra State Wrestling Association (MSWA) to appeal against the "sudden dissolution" of its elected executive committee led by NCP chief Sharad Pawar, before the Wrestling Federation of India within 10 days.A division bench of Justices SV Gangapurwala and Madhav Jamdar further directed the president of WFI to decide the appeal expeditiously within 30 days from filing.The court recorded the statement made by WFI's counsel that an earlier undertaking, not to declare the fresh election results for the 24 posts of the executive committee, has been maintained and would continue till the appeal was decided and 10 days thereafter.With the above directions the court disposed of two petitions filed by MSWA. The first petition was against WFI for dissolving it's committee and the second, a contempt petition.NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had headed the MSWA committee for over 40 years, till it was dissolved by WFI on July 4, 2022.In the petition filed last month, MSWA, said that in a meeting held on June 30 WFI's national executive committee, headed by BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh Brijbhushan Sharan Singh decided to dissolve MSWA's committee citing failure to conduct certain tournaments. The decision was arbitrary, MSWA said.It also referred to news reports which claimed that the state body's control was being handed over to Ramdas Tadas, BJP MP from Wardha.It further said that the present committee was appointed for five years and its tenure would end in 2023. The state committee was merely informed that it had been dissolved and a ad-hoc committee had been appointed for the functioning of the association.On Wednesday advocate Ajinkya Udane for WFI said the petitioners had an alternate remedy for appeal and WFI was willing to consider an appeal.Advocate Akshay Kapadia for the petitioners agreed, and the HC disposed of the petitions.Regarding the contempt petition against WFI for allegedly disclosing names of appointees, the court recorded Udane's statements that the official body has not released the names."A statement was made that the results of elections would not be declared till the next date. WFI's counsel says the results have not been declared. He agrees to maintain the statement till disposal of the appeal and 10 days thereafter. Petitioners shall file an appeal within 10 days from today. Appeal should be decided expeditiously, within 30 days from day of filing. In view of the statements petitions stands disposed of," the court said in the order.

Bombay High Court Directs WFI To Decide Plea Against Dissolution Of Sharad Pawar-Led Committee Of State Wrestling Association

Sharmeen Hakim

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