The Delhi High Court has sought the Sports Ministry’s response on a plea by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) challenging its suspension.

Justice Subramonium Prasad issued a notice to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (YAS Ministry) and asked it to file its reply to the petition within four weeks.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on 28 May.

Sports Ministry had suspended WFI on 24 December last year, three days after it had elected new office bearers, for allegedly not following the provisions of its own constitution.

Advocate Dayan Krishnan, representing WFI, submitted that the WFI had no show cause notice issued to them before the decision to indefinitely suspend it was taken.

Krishnan argued the hasty decision violates the constitutional provisions of WFI as well as the National Sports Code which contemplates issuance of show cause notice before such action. He added that this was against the principles of natural justice.

While suspending the WFI, Sports Ministry had cited its “hasty announcement” of organising U-15 and U-20 nationals “without following due procedure and not giving sufficient notice to wrestlers” for preparations.

The ministry felt the newly-elected WFI was working under the control of its former office-bearers, which was not in conformity with the National Sports Code.

Sanjay Singh, a close associate of multiple-term BJP Lok Sabha MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused by female wrestlers in a sexual harassment case, had succeeded him to the post.

Another bench of the High Court is scheduled to hear a plea by four wrestlers including Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bajrang Punia seeking directions to the Ministry to not revoke WFI’s suspension and appoint a one-man committee to take over the federation’s management and administration. That case hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.