The Supreme Court on Thursday declared the plea of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) challenging the Delhi High Court order that permitted wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in selection trials as infructuous, citing subsequent developments.
Supreme Court's Decision
A bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Aravind Kumar declined to delve into the observations made by the High Court. The bench clarified that its decision should not be interpreted as an endorsement or reiteration of the findings and observations contained in the High Court's order. The court left all related issues open for future consideration.
Arguments Presented
Senior advocate DN Goburdhun, representing the WFI, informed the bench that Phogat was allowed to participate in the selection trial but failed to succeed. He further stated, "She did not succeed but she created havoc over there." The bench responded by noting that the matter had become infructuous due to subsequent events.
Goburdhun also highlighted that the High Court had made certain observations regarding the Federation's decisions, labeling them as "malafide" and "deplorable." He argued that these observations should be set aside as the matter is pending before a single bench. The Supreme Court left the questions open and disposed of the plea as infructuous.
Background
On May 29, the Supreme Court had permitted Phogat to participate in the selection trials scheduled for May 30 and 31 for the Asian Games 2026. The WFI subsequently challenged the Delhi High Court's May 22 order that allowed Phogat to take part in these trials. The top court's latest ruling effectively ends the legal challenge without addressing the merits of the case.
This development marks a significant chapter in the ongoing legal tussle between the wrestler and the wrestling federation, with the court refraining from making any substantive comments on the allegations of bias or procedural irregularities raised by Phogat.
