SC dismisses pleas against HC’s refusal to interfere with equestrian team selection

New Delhi, July 13: The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed pleas challenging the Delhi High Court’s refusal to interfere with the non-selection of riders Anush Agarwalla and Sudipti Hajela in India’s dressage team for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan.
A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe refused to grant any relief to the riders, saying the court is very reluctant to interfere in individual sports matters.
“This court would be very reluctant to keep interfering in sports. We can only do it in the context of institutional issues… Individual persons coming at the last dates are getting worse…” the bench told senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for both the riders.
Singh submitted that both riders have an order of the division bench in their favour, but the Equestrian Federation opposed the government’s suggestion that the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Authority of India will evaluate them. He added that they have been put on a waitlist and need consideration as per the settled process.
The bench said it is not concerned with the individual cases, but if counsels want to assist on the institutional issue, the court will accept it.
The Asian Games will be held from September 19 to October 4.
On July 6, the high court refused to interfere with the non-selection of Agarwalla and Hajela, upholding a single judge’s denial of relief to the two.
Both riders won gold medals at the 2022 Asian Games and filed petitions against the selections made by the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI).
Dismissing the riders’ appeals, the high court earlier said that while it did not find any infirmity with the preparation of the list of probables, the EFI had failed to comply with certain clauses of the selection criteria.
It, however, maintained that a fresh trial was not possible at this stage and exercised “restraint” in the larger interest of sports and to avoid any adverse impact on the country’s prospects at the Asian Games. (PTI)