A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, which issued a notice on the WFI\u2019s Special Leave Petition (SLP), permitted Phogat to take part in the trials scheduled for May 30 and 31. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The apex court ordered that \"the respondent (Phogat) shall be permitted to participate in the selection trials for the Asian Games 2026\", and indicated that it would examine the larger issues raised in the SLP at a later stage. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
During the hearing, the Justice Narasimha-led Bench expressed concern over the circumstances relating to Phogat\u2019s anti-doping obligations and her failure to keep the authorities informed about her whereabouts during the relevant period. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
It observed that adherence to anti-doping protocols, including timely participation in tests and disclosure of whereabouts, was a critical obligation for Phogat and flagged the issue for consideration. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The top court also objected to certain observations made by the Delhi High Court while granting interim relief to Phogat, particularly its prima facie view that the WFI\u2019s eligibility framework was \"exclusionary\" in nature. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Questioning the basis of such findings at the interim stage, the Supreme Court remarked that the WFI\u2019s selection policy had been framed in February 2026 and was applicable uniformly to all athletes. Nevertheless, it allowed the Delhi High Court\u2019s directions permitting Phogat\u2019s participation in the selection trials to remain in operation for the time being. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The WFI had approached the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court order allowing Phogat to participate in the Asian Games 2026 selection trials despite not fulfilling the eligibility criteria prescribed under the federation\u2019s policy. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
In its order passed last week, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia had held that motherhood cannot be treated as a ground for exclusion from professional opportunities and observed that the WFI\u2019s policy framework failed to account for Phogat\u2019s maternity-related sabbatical and post-partum recovery period, which coincided with the qualifying events. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
The WFI had approached the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court order allowing Phogat to participate in the Asian Games 2026 selection trials despite not fulfilling the eligibility criteria prescribed under the federation\u2019s policy. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
It had also directed that the selection trials be video-recorded and conducted under the supervision of independent observers nominated by the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Olympic Association. It had further clarified that Phogat\u2019s participation would remain subject to the outcome of the pending writ petition before the single-judge Bench examining the validity of the WFI\u2019s policy, selection criteria, and show-cause notice. <\/p>\r\n\r\n