New Delhi, June 29: The Delhi High Court on Monday upheld the Equestrian Federation of India’s (EFI) selection process for the Asian Games dressage team, dismissing petitions filed by riders Anush Agarwalla and Sudipti Hajela after holding that the selection criteria were applied fairly and there was no arbitrariness, perversity or procedural impropriety warranting judicial interference.
Justice Mini Pushkarna ruled that courts cannot substitute the opinion of expert selection bodies unless their decisions are shown to be arbitrary, capricious, perverse or contrary to settled principles.
Both riders had challenged the June 16 selection list issued by the EFI’s Ad-hoc Committee for the dressage event at the Asian Games in Japan, where they were placed as reserve riders – Agarwalla as first reserve and Hajela as second reserve – while four riders were selected ahead of them.
The court rejected all their challenges, including objections to the calculation of Minimum Eligibility Requirements, the interpretation of the selection criteria, the absence of additional selection trials and allegations of bias in the selection committee. The case arose from the selection of India’s dressage team for the Asian Games to be held in Japan from September 19. (PTI)
