BFI Power Struggle: HC Halts Meeting on No-Confidence Motion Against Ajay Singh
Punjab and Haryana High Court puts the BFI General Body meeting on hold amid a legal battle over a no-confidence motion against President Ajay Singh.
The internal turmoil within the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has reached the courtroom. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stepped in to put a stop to a critical General Body meeting scheduled for October 28, which was intended to decide the fate of BFI President Ajay Singh through a no-confidence motion.
Court Intervenes in BFI Leadership Clash
Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya issued an interim direction to keep the meeting in abeyance until the next hearing. This legal intervention comes after Ajay Singh filed a petition challenging the notice issued on October 8, which proposed the no-confidence motion and called for the gathering of the General Body.
The court has now issued a notice of motion and scheduled the next hearing for November 13, ensuring that no such vote takes place in the interim.
The Legal Argument: Constitutional Violations
Represented by Senior Advocate Chetan Mittal and a legal team, Ajay Singh argued that the move to oust him was a direct violation of the BFI’s own constitution. The core of the legal dispute rests on two main points:
- Removal Threshold: Singh contended that according to the federation's rules, a president can only be removed if a no-confidence motion is supported by at least three-fourths of the General Body members during a specially convened meeting.
- Authority to Call Meetings: The petitioner argued that a Special General Meeting can only be called by the President himself or upon the request of two-thirds of the Executive Committee members.
Singh alleged that the Secretary General bypassed these mandatory provisions when issuing the October 8 notice, rendering the proposed meeting illegal.
Retaliation and Concerns for Athletes
The BFI President suggested that this attempt to remove him was not about governance, but rather a retaliatory move following actions he had taken against the Secretary General. Beyond the administrative battle, Singh expressed concern that this instability within the federation's leadership could negatively impact the future and preparation of boxers competing in national and international arenas.
A Divided House: Olympians vs. Administration
The legal battle is mirrored by a deep divide within the boxing community. Recently, a significant group of sports personalities—including Olympians, Arjuna Awardees, Dronacharya Awardees, veteran coaches, and former international boxers—publicly voiced their support for Secretary General Pramod Kumar. This group raised serious alarms regarding the leadership and the overall direction of the BFI under Ajay Singh's presidency.
Adding another layer of complexity to the feud, the BFI had previously placed Pramod Kumar under interim suspension. This action was taken pending a detailed investigation into allegations of administrative overreach, avoidance of official oversight, and various procedural violations.