SC sets aside stay imposed by Punjab and Haryana HC on WFI elections

SC sets aside HC stay on WFI elections. Bench fails to understand how HC could set entire process at naught. Proper course would have been to allow election and make it subject to outcome of pending writ petition. Outcome of election will be subject to orders passed in petition.

The Supreme Court on November 28 set aside the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on holding of elections to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

A bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Pankaj Mithal said it failed to understand how the entire process of the election could have been set at naught by high court.

"Pending a writ petition filed by the Haryana Wrestling Association, by an interim order the high court has stayed the election of WFI. We fail to understand how the entire process of the election could have been set at naught by HC. The proper course would have been to allow the election to be conducted and make the election subject to the outcome of the pending writ petition.

"Accordingly, the impugned order granting interim relief is set aside. It will be open for returning officer to proceed with the election by publishing a revised election program. We make it clear that the outcome of the election will be subject to orders that may be passed in the petition," the bench said.

The top court had earlier sought the response of the Centre and others on a plea by the ad-hoc committee constituted to run the WFI challenging a stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on holding elections to the wrestling body.

The ad-hoc panel had moved the apex court against the September 25 order of the high court putting the elections on hold.

The top court had on August 29 refused to interfere with the high court's order staying the WFI elections.