The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) interim committee, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and the Union Sports Ministry, seeking their responses to pleas challenging the BFI’s decision to hold elections on August 21, 2025. The bench, led by Justice Mini Pushkarna, was addressing petitions filed by four state boxing associations—Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh—contesting the interim committee’s authority and the electoral process. The court has scheduled the next hearing for August 18, 2025, emphasizing the urgency and sensitivity of the matter.
The BFI’s interim committee, established by World Boxing on April 7, 2025, and chaired by Ajay Singh, announced the August 21 elections to elect office-bearers for the 2025-2029 term, following delays due to legal disputes. The committee, formed after the tenure of the previous BFI executive ended on February 2, 2025, has been tasked with overseeing the federation’s operations and conducting the polls in accordance with a World Boxing-approved constitution. However, the state associations argue that the interim committee’s actions, including the disqualification of candidates like BJP lawmaker Anurag Thakur and Rohit Jainendra Jain, violate the BFI constitution and the National Sports Development Code of 2011.
Represented by senior advocate Amit Sibal, the BFI interim committee defended the election process, asserting that the new constitution, endorsed by 30 of 34 state associations, mandates that candidates be elected members of state units and not hold public office. Thakur, a Lok Sabha MP, and Jain were disqualified under these rules, sparking contention. The IOA, in a July 30 letter to the sports ministry, had previously recommended dissolving the interim committee and conducting elections under independent supervision, citing concerns over transparency and fairness.
Also Read: Delhi, Maharashtra, Chandigarh Dominate India’s EV Revolution
The court’s directive ensures that any elections held on August 21 will be subject to the outcome of the ongoing writ petitions, highlighting the contentious nature of the BFI’s internal governance. The legal battle, compounded by allegations of factionalism and administrative mismanagement, underscores broader challenges in Indian sports governance as the nation prepares to host the World Boxing Cup Final and Congress in November 2025.
Also Read: Opposition Questions Law and Order After Delhi Chain Snatching Incident