Acting on petitions from four State units — Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat — on Boxing Federation of India (BFI) elections, scheduled on August 21, the Delhi High Court on Thursday posted the matter for hearing along with some previously filed petitions on August 18.

These State units challenged the validity of the BFI’s newly-adopted constitution, alleging it was ultra vires, undemocratic and framed without the approval of the General Body. They sought an interim stay on the elections and prayed for a direction to appoint a new Returning Officer, but the High Court did not grant any interim relief while saying that the election results will be subject to the final outcome of the case.

Meanwhile, on the basis of its newly-adopted constitution in May, which has the approval of World Boxing, the Interim Committee running the BFI rejected the nomination of former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, who was aspiring to contest against outgoing president Ajay Singh for the post of the president.

Following its previous notification for elections in March, the BFI had also rejected Thakur’s nomination on the basis of an order signed by Ajay Singh.