Boxing Impasse: Independent Observers to Oversee BFI Elections

Following the directions of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, the government and World Boxing have appointed independent observers for the Boxing Federation of India’s (BFI) elections.

Last month, the Delhi High Court stayed the office order regarding the constitution of an ad hoc committee for overseeing BFI’s affairs.[1] Shortly thereafter, the BFI President issued a notice stating that only duly elected members during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the state units affiliated with the BFI shall be authorised to represent their respective states/ union territories. This notice, dated March 7, was later stayed by both the Delhi High Court[2] and the Himachal Pradesh High Court[3].

During the proceedings, the petitioners argued that the impugned notice is in contravention of the Model Election Guidelines as well as the Rules and Regulations of the BFI, which refer to representatives authorised by the President or Secretary General and not to any elected members. On the other hand, BFI defended its position, relying on an RTI reply and office noting of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in which it was accepted that the members to be authorised by the President are to be elected members and not nominated members. However, the Ministry submitted that the office noting could not be considered to be its final view since there is no official intimation with respect to the said noting and added that the contents of the RTI reply and office noting had to be verified.

While the Delhi High Court ruled that the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association had to be allowed to participate in the election process, the Himachal Pradesh High Court ordered an extension of the nomination submission deadline to enable former Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, whose nomination by the Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association (HPBA) was earlier rejected, to file his nomination.

In view of these decisions, BFI’s returning officer issued an order postponing the elections. However, the Himachal Pradesh High Court stayed this order as well, directing the appointment of an independent observer to oversee the BFI elections and to ensure it is conducted fairly and transparently. Consequently, the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Deputy Director General, Mayank Srivastava, and the President of the Japan Boxing Federation, Tatsuya Nakama, have been appointed as independent observers.

[1] Boxing Federation of India v. Indian Olympic Association & Anr. [WP(C) 2600/2025]

[2] Delhi Amateur Boxing Association v. Boxing Federation of India & Anr. [WP(C) 3361/2025]

[3] Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association and Anr. v. Union of India and Ors. [CWP 3714/ 2025]