Boxing Federation of India postpones elections, say can’t complete process within original timelines | Boxing News

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) announced on Wednesday the deferment of its elections, which were set for March 28, saying that it is “impossible to complete the process within originally planned timelines” after receiving directives from both the Delhi and Himachal Pradesh High Courts, instructing BFI to include previously excluded names in the electoral college.
The elections were scheduled to take place at BFI’s Annual General Meeting, until a directive on March 21 by the Returning Officer (Justice Retd) RK Gauba.
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The Delhi and Himachal Pradesh HCs suspended the March 7 directive from BFI President Ajay Singh, which had disqualified non-elected state association members from the electoral college membership.
The Delhi HC permitted BFI to go ahead with the election process, while the Himachal Pradesh HC instructed the federation to extend nomination deadlines, allowing former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur’s candidacy, which was previously disallowed under the March 7 directive.
On Tuesday, BFI’s appeal against the Himachal Pradesh HC decision was unsuccessful.
“This is to inform you that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), which was scheduled to be held on 28.03.2025, stands postponed,” BFI said in a notification to its member units.
“The Ld. Returning Officer has observed that in light of the court orders and the resulting mandated additions to the electoral college list, it is practically impossible to continue and complete the election process within the originally planned timelines as per the Model Election Code,” it further stated.
In his order, Gauba noted that the two court orders “necessitates certain steps to be taken by BFI under the R&Rs and the Model Election Code.” The electoral college was finalised on March 13 while the window of nominations was from March 14 to 16.
“Having regard to the fact that the Model Election Code prescribes the time-lines for the election process, it is rendered practically impossible, with above-mandated additions to the Electoral College List, for the electoral process to be continued and completed under the extant Schedule,” the order read.
The election schedule has experienced several postponements and disputes, with the initial deadline set for February 2.
The BFI initiated proceedings only after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) established an ad-hoc committee. The federation contested this decision in the Delhi HC and was successful in getting a stay on the decision.