Vinesh Phogat Vs Wrestling Federation of India & Ors. — Delhi HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Vinesh Phogat Vs Wrestling Federation of India & Ors. — Delhi HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to the Competent Authority to decide the Show Cause Notice bearing reference WFI/DC/SCN/2026 dated 09.05.2026 within two weeks, in accordance with law, under intimation to the petitioner and the Court; petition and pending application(s) disposed of in these terms.

Issue for consideration

Whether the WFI Asian Games Selection Policy dated 25.02.2026 and the Selection Criteria Circular dated 06.05.2026, to the extent they operate to exclude the Petitioner from participation in the Asian Games 2026 selection trials, are liable to be quashed and/or set aside (prayer (a)). +2 more

Ratio / Principle

As far as prayer (b) is concerned, the Competent Authority is directed to decide the Show Cause Notice bearing reference WFI/DC/SCN/2026 dated 09.05.2026 within a period of two weeks, in accordance with law, under intimation to the petitioner and this Court.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Delhi High Court (Dr. Swarana Kanta Sharma, J.) disposed of W.P.(C) 6766/2026 & CM APPL. 33268/2026 filed by Vinesh Phogat against the Wrestling Federation of India and others. The petition sought (a) quashing of the WFI Asian Games Selection Policy dated 25.02.2026 and the Selection Criteria Circular dated 06.05.2026 to the extent they excluded the petitioner from the Asian Games 2026 selection trials; (b) quashing of the Show Cause Notice bearing reference WFI/DC/SCN/2026 dated 09.05.2026, including the declaration of interim ineligibility in Section VII thereof, alleged to be without jurisdiction, without legal basis under the applicable anti-doping framework, contrary to natural justice and issued with malice in law; and (c) conduct of the selection trials under the supervision of IOA and MYAS nominees. Counsel for Respondent No. 1 stated that prayers (a) and (c) had become infructuous. On prayer (b), the Court directed the Competent Authority to decide the Show Cause Notice within two weeks, in accordance with law, under intimation to the petitioner and the Court, and disposed of the petition and pending applications accordingly. No statute or precedent was cited and no substantive finding was recorded on the merits.

$~16

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

- W.P.(C) 6766/2026 & CM APPL. 33268/2026 VINESH PHOGAT .....Petitioner

Through: Mr. Rajshekhar Rao, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Ritwik Prakash and Ms. Vishakha, Advocates.

versus

WRESTLING FEDERATION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents

Through: Mr Hemant Phalpher and Mr. Karishmit Keswani, Advocates for R-1. Mr. Udit Dedhiya, SPC with Mr. Rahul Mourya, GP with Ms. Apurva Sachdev and Mr. Preyansh Gupta, Advocates for R-2.

Mr. Parth Goswami and Mr. Ranjeet Pawar, Advocates for R-3.

CORAM: HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA

O R D E R % 06.07.2026

1. By way of the present petition, the petitioner seeks following prayers:

“...(a) Issue an appropriate writ of mandamus or any other writ, order or direction quashing and/or setting aside 63 the WFI Asian Games Selection Policy dated 25.02.2026 and the Selection Criteria Circular dated 06.05.2026 to the extent they operate to exclude the Petitioner from participation in the Asian Games 2026 selection trials;

(b) Issue an appropriate Writ of Mandamus or any other writ, order or direction quashing and setting aside the Show Cause Notice bearing reference WFI/DC/SCN/2026 dated 09.05.2026, and the

This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 09/07/2026 at 11:03:09

declaration of interim ineligibility contained in Section VII thereof, being without jurisdiction, without legal basis under the applicable anti-doping framework, contrary to the principles of natural justice, and issued with malice in law;

(c) Pass an appropriate writ, order or direction directing that the Selection Trials for the 2026 Asian Games conducted by Respondent No. l be carried out under the supervision and observation of representatives/observers nominated by the IOA and MYAS so as to ensure fairness, transparency and compliance with the principles governing selection processes for national representation...”

The learned senior panel counsel appearing for respondent no. 1 states that the prayer nos. (a) and (c) have become infructuous.

As far as prayer (b) is concerned, the Competent Authority is directed to decide the Show Cause Notice bearing reference WFI/DC/SCN/2026 dated 09.05.2026, within a period of two weeks from date, in accordance with law, under intimation to the petitioner herein and this Court.

The present petition, along with, pending application, if any, stands disposed of in above terms.

The order be uploaded on the website forthwith.

DR. SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J

JULY 06, 2026/zp TD

This is a digitally signed order.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 09/07/2026 at 11:03:09