Source PTI file Photo
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday disposed of a petition filed by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), declaring it “infructuous” (meaningless) following subsequent sports developments. The WFI had approached the apex court to challenge a Delhi High Court directive that permitted ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in crucial national selection trials.
A vacation bench comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Aravind Kumar observed that because the selection trials had already concluded, the core grievance of the federation no longer required active judicial intervention.
Legal Nuances Left Open
While wrapping up the case, the top court explicitly stated that its refusal to dive into the matter should not be misconstrued as an endorsement of the previous legal findings. The bench clarified that the Supreme Court “should not be taken as having reiterated the findings and observations made in the [High Court] order,” explicitly leaving all legal issues open for future deliberation.
During the brief hearing, senior advocate D.N. Goburdhun, representing the WFI, pointed out that while Phogat was granted permission to compete in the selection trials, she ultimately failed to qualify.
“She did not succeed, but she created havoc over there,” Goburdhun argued before the bench, urging the court to expunge sharp criticisms levied by the High Court against the federation. The High Court had earlier labeled certain administrative decisions by the WFI as “malafide” and “deplorable.”
Goburdhun pressed that these highly critical observations should be set aside, especially since the broader underlying matter remains pending before a single-judge bench of the High Court. Acknowledging the timeline, the Supreme Court chose to leave those specific questions open for the lower court’s final review rather than striking them down directly.
The Backdrop
The legal tussle traces back to May 22, when the Delhi High Court cleared Phogat to participate in the selection trials scheduled for May 30 and 31. These trials were crucial for determining the Indian wrestling squad for the upcoming Asian Games 2026.
Seeking immediate intervention to block her entry, the WFI moved the Supreme Court. However, on May 29, the apex court declined to halt the proceedings, allowing Phogat to hit the mat for the selection window. Since the event has now concluded and the wrestler did not make the cut, the highest court has officially put the localized dispute to rest, passing the baton back to the High Court for any lingering administrative reviews.
