Supreme Court Refuses to Expunge Delhi High Court’s Remarks Against WFI in Vinesh Phogat Selection Trial Dispute

June 4, 2026 : The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to expunge adverse observations made by the Delhi High Court against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) in proceedings concerning wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s participation in the Asian Games 2026 selection trials.

A Bench comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Aravind Kumar held that the federation’s challenge had become infructuous following subsequent developments. However, the Court clarified that the disposal of the matter should not be construed as an affirmation of the findings recorded by the Delhi High Court.

The Court noted that Phogat had already participated in the selection trials pursuant to an interim order passed by the Supreme Court on May 29, 2026. As the primary purpose of the litigation had been fulfilled, the Special Leave Petition filed by the WFI no longer required adjudication.

While closing the proceedings, the Bench expressly stated that its order should not be interpreted as endorsing the Delhi High Court’s observations. All issues, including those raised before the High Court, were left open for consideration in pending proceedings.

The dispute originated from a May 22 judgment of the Delhi High Court, delivered by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia. The High Court directed that Phogat be allowed to participate in the Asian Games selection trials scheduled for May 30 and 31, holding that the WFI’s eligibility criteria were exclusionary.

The High Court observed that Phogat’s inability to satisfy the eligibility requirements stemmed largely from a break in competition due to maternity leave. Emphasising the need to protect equal opportunities for women athletes, the Court held that motherhood could not become a basis for exclusion from competitive sport.

The Division Bench also criticised a show-cause notice issued by the federation to Phogat, describing it as vindictive and deplorable. The notice had referred to her disqualification from the Paris Olympics due to excess weight as a “national embarrassment” and “national shame.” Taking exception to this language, the High Court observed that the notice prima facie reflected mala fides on the part of the federation.

Challenging these findings, the WFI approached the Supreme Court. On May 29, the apex court permitted Phogat to participate in the selection trials while keeping the matter pending. At that stage, the Court expressed reservations about certain aspects of the High Court’s reasoning, noting that significant emphasis had been placed on motherhood-related issues despite the dispute also involving anti-doping compliance and testing requirements.

The Supreme Court observed that Phogat had allegedly missed a doping test earlier in the year and that the explanation furnished to the International Testing Agency had not been found satisfactory. Nevertheless, the Court declined to interfere with the permission granted for her participation in the trials.

Following the Supreme Court’s order, Phogat took part in the selection process but failed to qualify for the Asian Games.

When the matter was heard again, Senior Advocate D.N. Goburdhun, appearing for the WFI, requested the Court to expunge the High Court’s observations from paragraph 31 onwards. He argued that findings relating to mala fides and criticism of the federation could prejudice proceedings that remain pending before a Single Judge of the Delhi High Court.

The Supreme Court declined the request and disposed of the Special Leave Petition as infructuous. The Bench observed that the pending proceedings before the Single Judge would be decided independently and that all questions arising therein remained open for adjudication.

The controversy traces back to the WFI’s selection policy for the Asian Games trials, which limited eligibility to medal winners from specified competitions held during 2025 and 2026. Phogat was ineligible under those criteria as she had not participated in the designated events, having announced her retirement after the 2024 Olympics before returning to competitive wrestling in December 2025.

The federation subsequently issued a show-cause notice alleging indiscipline, anti-doping violations and non-compliance with return-to-competition requirements prescribed by United World Wrestling. It alleged that Phogat had failed to complete the mandatory six-month notice period before resuming competition and referred to alleged whereabouts failures under anti-doping regulations.

Phogat denied the allegations, asserting that both the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Testing Agency had cleared her to compete from January 2026. She maintained that the federation’s actions were arbitrary, unfair and intended to force her retirement from the sport.

With the completion of the selection trials and Phogat’s participation therein, the Supreme Court has now closed the proceedings while leaving all substantive issues concerning the legality of the WFI’s actions and selection policy to be determined in the pending proceedings before the Delhi High Court.