Asian Games | Decision To Exclude Athlete Taken By Authorities & Experts, Courts Can't Interfere: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court has held that courts cannot interfere with a decision to exclude an athlete from participation in a particular category which has been objectively taken by the authorities and subject experts.Justice Amit Mahajan made the observation while dismissing a plea filed by an athlete- Muskan Rathi, challenging the decision to not conduct selection trials in the women's +87...
The Delhi High Court has held that courts cannot interfere with a decision to exclude an athlete from participation in a particular category which has been objectively taken by the authorities and subject experts.
Justice Amit Mahajan made the observation while dismissing a plea filed by an athlete- Muskan Rathi, challenging the decision to not conduct selection trials in the women's +87 kg category for the 20th Asian Games.
“The decision to exclude athlete from participation in particular category is objectively taken by the authorities and subject experts which cannot be interfered,” the Court observed.
Rathi had challenged the decision of the The Indian Kurash Association (TIKA) to conduct selection trials for the women's -57 kg and -78 kg categories, while not conducting trials for the official women's +87 kg category.
She sought directions for conducting fair and transparent selection trials in the +87 kg category, with all eligible athletes being considered on the basis of comparative merit, objective performance criteria and medal-winning potential.
The authorities, in their counter affidavit, stated that India had secured medals in the -57 kg and -78 kg categories on earlier occasions, whereas no international medal had been secured in the +87 kg category in the preceding two years.
On this, the Court noted that the authorities assessed the comparative medal-winning probability of the different categories and the likelihood of winning medals, which is the objective of the Government's policy.
It further noted that it was on this assessment that the decision was taken not to send an athlete in the +87 kg category.
The Court held that while exercising jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, it cannot issue a writ of mandamus directing the authorities to take a different view.
The Court also rejected Rathi's contention that candidates selected in the -57 kg category had not participated despite their names being sent.
It further noted that the Asian Games had already commenced on September 19, 2026, and therefore no relief could be granted to the petitioner at that stage.
The petition was accordingly dismissed.
Title: MUSKAN RATHI v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS