The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed as infructuous the plea filed by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) challenging the High Court order that allowed star wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in the selection trials for the upcoming international events.
Court's Observations
A bench comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Aravind Kumar refused to delve into the observations made by the High Court in its order. The bench clarified that its dismissal of the plea should not be construed as an endorsement of the findings or remarks made by the High Court. "We are not going into the merits of the case. The plea has become infructuous as the selection trials have already been conducted," the bench noted.
Background of the Case
The legal battle began when Vinesh Phogat, a top Indian wrestler, approached the High Court after being excluded from the selection trials by the WFI. The High Court had directed the federation to allow her participation, prompting the WFI to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Senior advocates representing the WFI argued that the High Court's order interfered with the federation's autonomy and selection procedures. However, the Supreme Court declined to entertain these submissions, stating that the matter had become irrelevant due to the passage of time and the completion of the trials.
Implications for Wrestlers and Federations
This ruling underscores the judiciary's reluctance to intervene in administrative decisions of sports bodies once the event in question has concluded. Legal experts suggest that the judgment may set a precedent for future cases involving athlete selection disputes. The WFI has yet to comment on the Supreme Court's decision, while Vinesh Phogat's camp expressed satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing that the focus should remain on the athlete's preparation and performance.
The selection trials, which were held under the supervision of the Indian Olympic Association, saw Vinesh Phogat securing a spot in the national team. She is now expected to represent India at the upcoming Asian Games and World Championships.
