Rahul Mehra Praises Government’s Move in Vinesh Phogat’s Case
New Delhi, India – Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra, who represents prominent wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik, praised the government’s decision to involve top legal expert Harish Salve in Vinesh Phogat’s case. He called it a significant step.
Speaking about the Court of Arbitration for Sports hearing on Friday, where Vinesh Phogat’s plea against her disqualification will be addressed, Mehra said, “Significant step taken by the government… There is still a sliver of hope that Vinesh might just end up getting a silver medal at the Olympics. It was important to have one of the best legal minds in India. Undoubtedly, Harish Salve is one of those. So it’s a step in the right direction. I wish him the very best.”
Harish Salve, a Senior Advocate, will represent the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in the case concerning Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Paris Olympics. Salve’s expertise will be crucial in addressing the legal and procedural aspects of the dispute. The ad hoc hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is scheduled to start later on Friday.
On Thursday, in the Delhi High Court, Mehra alleged that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its president, Sanjay Singh, are making proxy decisions about Vinesh Phogat’s situation at the Olympics village. The WFI’s elected executive committee had been suspended by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in December 2023.
The Delhi High Court was informed that WFI president Sanjay Singh was present at the Olympic Village in Paris and allegedly involved in decisions regarding Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified for being slightly overweight before her gold medal bout. The wrestlers’ lawyer claimed that the WFI was being run by proxies and objected to Singh’s presence at the Olympic Village.
The court is examining a plea from wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik, challenging the legitimacy of the WFI elections held on December 21, 2023, which elected Singh as the new president. The petitioners argue that the elections violated the Sports Code and seek to have the WFI cease its activities related to wrestling.
The Central government counsel expressed support for Vinesh Phogat amidst the ongoing legal issues. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was suspended by the government in December 2023 due to procedural violations. However, this suspension was lifted by the United World Wrestling (UWW) in February 2024, resulting in the dissolution of the ad hoc committee that the Indian Olympic Association had formed to oversee the WFI.
The Delhi High Court will continue hearing the case on September 12, 2024.
Doubts Revealed
Rahul Mehra -: Rahul Mehra is a senior lawyer who helps people understand and solve legal problems. He is well-known for his work in courts.
Harish Salve -: Harish Salve is a very famous lawyer in India who has worked on many important cases. He helps people and organizations with legal issues.
Vinesh Phogat -: Vinesh Phogat is a famous Indian wrestler who has won many medals for India in international competitions.
Indian Olympic Association -: The Indian Olympic Association is a group that helps Indian athletes participate in the Olympic Games and other sports events.
Paris Olympics -: The Paris Olympics is a big sports event where athletes from all over the world compete. It will be held in Paris, France.
Delhi High Court -: The Delhi High Court is a big court in Delhi where important legal cases are heard and decided.
Wrestling Federation of India -: The Wrestling Federation of India is a group that manages wrestling activities and competitions in India.
disqualification -: Disqualification means not being allowed to participate in a competition because of some rules or issues.
plea -: A plea is a request made to a court asking for a decision or help with a problem.
legitimacy -: Legitimacy means being legal or acceptable according to the rules or laws.
