WFI Election Petitions Dismissed After Olympians Fail to Appear in Delhi High Court

The petitions filed by prominent wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and Satyawart Kadian challenging the Wrestling Federation of India’s (WFI) December 2023 elections have been dismissed by the Delhi High Court after the petitioners repeatedly failed to appear before the court. The order was passed by Justice Mini Pushkarna, who observed that the wrestlers had remained absent on multiple consecutive dates.

The petitions had been filed in early 2024, with allegations that the WFI elections won by Sanjay Singh over Anita Sheoran were not conducted in a fair or transparent manner. The petitioners had claimed that procedural lapses and irregularities had taken place during the electoral process and had sought judicial intervention to review or invalidate the results. Sheoran had been supported by the three Olympians who had led high-profile protests in 2023 seeking structural reforms and accountability within the federation.

During the hearing on November 27, Justice Pushkarna recorded that none of the petitioners or their representatives were present. It was noted that similar absences had occurred during the two previous hearings as well. The court stated that the conduct of the petitioners indicated that they did not appear to be interested in prosecuting the matter further. The petitions were therefore dismissed for non-prosecution and in default.

No official reason was placed on record for the wrestlers’ repeated absence. Legal observers noted that prolonged legal proceedings, international sporting commitments and shifting priorities could have contributed to the non-appearance. Some analysts suggested that the petitioners might have chosen to focus on sporting responsibilities or alternative channels of engagement rather than continuing the legal challenge. The absence was also interpreted in some quarters as a possible strategic decision, given that extended litigation often requires sustained time, resources and coordination.

From the administrative perspective, the dismissal has effectively closed the legal challenge to the 2023 electoral process and has reinforced the position of the current WFI leadership. Federations and governance experts pointed out that the outcome removes a major point of uncertainty that had surrounded the body since the protests and election dispute.

The case had drawn national attention due to the involvement of some of India’s most accomplished wrestlers, who had been at the forefront of calls for greater transparency in sports administration. With the petitions now dismissed, the judicial route to contest the WFI elections has formally come to an end.