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Delhi HC stays IOA order on forming boxing ad-hoc panel

Court directs federation to hold elections within 45 days.

The court granted two weeks' time to the IOA to file its reply to the petition and posted the hearing on March 27. (File)

The Delhi High Court on Monday stayed an Indian Olympic Association order to set up an ad-hoc committee to manage the affairs of the Boxing Federation of India until it conducts its elections.

The BFI, represented by advocate Parth Goswami, had moved the court terming IOA’s February 24 order, signed by president PT Usha, “arbitrary and illegal”, claiming that the national sports federation (NSF) has the exclusive authority to regulate, promote and manage boxing activities in the country. The plea before Justice Sachin Datta stressed that BFI is an independent and autonomous body, governed by its own constitution, rules and regulations.

The federation alleged that the IOA order was issued without any prior notice, discussion or correspondence with BFI, and was in clear violation of the principles of natural justice. BFI also claimed that the IOA constitution doesn’t confer any power on its president to constitute an ad-hoc committee.

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Seeking quashing of the IOA order, the BFI said that the “sudden and illegal interference” in its functioning would cause confusion and instability at a time when it’s in the process of conducting elections. The IOA move, it added, provided a dangerous precedent with regard to the governance of other sports federations.

Justice Datta issued a notice, seeking a response from the IOA and the sports ministry, and posted the matter for consideration on March 27. He also directed the BFI to hold its elections within three months, failing which the IOA was free to take appropriate disciplinary action. As per the IOA counsel, a meeting is scheduled between its president and BFI officials for reaching an amicable resolution in the matter.
In its order notifying the constitution of a five-member ad-hoc committee with Madhukant Pathak as its chairperson, the IOA had argued that it had “received numerous complaints from stakeholders, including athletes, coaches, and concerned authorities, regarding the non-participation of Indian boxers in various important National/International events in recent months.”

It added that “this situation is detrimental to the growth and performance of Indian boxing on the global stage and necessitates immediate coercive measures.”

While staying the IOA order, Justice Datta also took into account a recent verdict when he had set aside an IOA decision to appoint an ad-hoc committee to manage the affairs of the Bihar Olympic Association. The court had ruled that the IOA president “cannot be considered to have the power to constitute an ad-hoc committee to “look after the affairs”” of a state Olympic association.

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“BFI will conduct the elections within the next 45 days from today,” a federation spokesperson told The Indian Express.

India is set to host the Congress of newly-recognised body World Boxing in November, followed by the World Cup final.

“We are actively preparing to host the World Cup and Congress in India for the first time and the administrative issue won’t hamper it,” the spokesperson said.