Supreme Court says WFI plea against Vinesh Phogat trial order has become infructuous

The Supreme Court today said the plea of the Wrestling Federation of India against the Delhi High Court order allowing wrestler Vinesh Phogat to participate in selection trials has become infructuous in view of subsequent developments. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Aravind Kumar, which refused to go into the observations made by the high court, said this court should not be taken as having reiterated the findings and observations made in the order. The bench said all the issues are left open. 

 

Appearing for the WFI, Senior Advocate DN Goburdhun said Phogat was allowed to participate in the selection trial, but she did not succeed. The bench told him that the issue has now become infructuous. 

 

Goburdhun submitted that there were certain observations made by the High Court with regard to decisions of the Federation, terming them “malafide” and “deplorable”. The senior counsel had submitted that all these observations would have to go as the matter is pending before the single bench.

 

The top court then left the questions open and disposed of the plea as infructuous. 

 

On May 29, the top court permitted Phogat to participate in the selection trials to be held on May 30 and 31 for the Asian Games 2026. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) had challenged the Delhi High Court order of May 22 allowing Phogat to participate in the selection trials.