Himachal HC clears Anurag Thakur for BFI polls

Justice Ajay Mohan Goel directed BFI to extend the last date of nomination to enable Thakur to file his papers representing HPBA and to “fully participate” in BFI’s annual general meeting. The court said the election process will be subject to the final outcome of the writ petition filed before it by HPBA.

The court put in abeyance a March 7 notice issued by Ajay Singh that rejected the nomination of anyone who is not an elected member of a state unit. After HPBA forwarded Thakur’s nomination for the electoral college, Singh rejected it on the basis of his March 7 circular. The BFI president said states nominating any unelected representative was in violation of the federation bylaw and the national sports code.

“This court has no hesitation in holding that prima facie it is evident that notice, dated 07.03.2025 has been issued by respondent No.2 (BFI) without any authority and without any power,” justice Goel held.