The Supreme Court on Thursday (4 June) disposed of a petition filed by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) challenging a Delhi High Court order that had allowed wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the Asian Games 2026 selection trials. While declining to interfere with the High Court's observations against the federation, the top court clarified that those findings should not be treated as having received its approval.
Background of the Case
The dispute arose after WFI barred Vinesh Phogat from participating in the Asian Games selection trials held in May 2026. According to the federation, eligibility for the trials was restricted to medal winners from certain competitions conducted in 2025 and 2026, criteria that Phogat did not meet.
Phogat, who had announced her retirement after the Paris Olympics in 2024 before returning to the sport in late 2025, challenged the federation's decision before the Delhi High Court. She argued that her exclusion was unfair and linked to a break taken due to maternity leave.
On May 22, the Delhi High Court directed that she be allowed to participate in the selection trials. The court also ordered video recording of the trials and oversight by independent observers to ensure transparency.
A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia strongly criticized WFI's selection policy and a show-cause notice issued to Phogat.
The High Court observed that the policy was "clearly exclusionary in nature" and stated that motherhood should not become a reason for excluding female athletes from competitive opportunities.
The court also took exception to the language used in the federation's notice, particularly references to Phogat's disqualification from the Paris Olympics, and described the federation's conduct as unfair and vindictive.
WFI challenged the High Court's ruling before the Supreme Court. On May 29, a Bench of Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe permitted Phogat to participate in the selection trials while keeping the matter pending.
Phogat subsequently took part in the trials but was unsuccessful in securing qualification.
When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, Senior Advocate D.N. Goburdhun, appearing for WFI, urged the Court to remove several adverse observations made by the High Court.
He argued that findings relating to mala fides and criticism of the federation could affect proceedings that remain pending before a Single Judge of the Delhi High Court.
"The paragraphs must be expunged," counsel submitted, contending that the observations could influence future proceedings in the matter.
A Bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Aravind Kumar held that the petition had become infructuous because the selection trials had already been conducted and Phogat had participated pursuant to the Supreme Court's earlier order.
Disposing of the matter, the Bench said:
"In view of subsequent developments, this SLP is rendered infructuous. This Court will not be taken as reiterating the findings and observations of the High Court. The issues are kept open."
The Court declined WFI's request to expunge the High Court's remarks and formally closed the proceedings, while clarifying that its order should not be treated as an endorsement of the findings recorded by the Delhi High Court.
