The Delhi High Court has directed the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) to ensure greater clarity and transparency in its future selection processes, observing that uncertainty in selection procedures concerning athletes representing the country ought to be avoided.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma made the observations while refusing to interfere with EFI's selection of one Sresht Raju Mantena for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2026.

The Court dismissed the challenge raised by 16-year-old international show-jumping athlete Vaasvi Khaitan.

The Court said EFI should, in future selection processes, clearly prescribe the selection window and relevant timelines, including the date from which performances would be considered, the cut-off date for results and the date by which the final selection was proposed to be made.

It further said that the selection criteria should be as specific and transparent as reasonably possible.

“In future selection processes, the EFI should clearly prescribe the selection window and the relevant timelines, including the date from which performances would be considered, the cut-off date for results, and the date by which the final selection is proposed to be made,” the Court observed.

It also said that the criteria should specify, as far as reasonably possible, how parameters such as “recent performance, consistency, level of competition and other relevant parameters” would be assessed.

“This would ensure that the athletes are aware, in advance, of the basis on which their performances are likely to be assessed and would reduce the possibility of the interpretation of broad or open-ended criteria being left entirely to the discretion of the members of the Selection Committee at a later stage,” the Court said.

While doing so, the judge clarified that generally it would not ordinarily enter into the domain of policy formulation, but it considered it necessary to make certain observations for the consideration of the EFI to bringing greater clarity and uniformity in future selection processes and avoiding any uncertainty amongst eligible athletes.

“While this Court has refrained from interfering with the ultimate selection for the reasons recorded hereinabove, such uncertainty in a selection process involving athletes representing the country ought to be avoided. Therefore, to prevent such situations from arising in future and to ensure that future selection processes are conducted with greater clarity, transparency and consistency, the suggestions are made for the consideration of EFI,” the Court said.

The petitioner Vaasvi Khaitan challenged EFI's selection of Sresht Raju Mantena for YOG 2026. It was her case that EFI had retrospectively restricted the period for considering qualifying performances to May 8 to July 25, thereby excluding seven of her eight earlier qualifying scores.

She argued that an eight-month selection window from November 8, 2025 to July 25, 2026 had initially been prescribed and that her earlier performances ought to have been considered.

EFI, however, disputed that any such eight-month YOG selection window had been prescribed. It maintained that November 8, 2025 was relevant to the issuance of Certificates of Capability (COCs), and not the commencement of the YOG selection process.

The Court declined to order a fresh selection, noting that the final entry deadline of September 25 was approaching and all seven riders had already participated in the subsequent selection process, including by travelling and competing internationally and submitting their results.

Accordingly, the Court declined to interfere with EFI's revised selection decision and disposed of the petition.

Title: VAASVI KHAITAN MINOR THROUGH HER FATHER MR VEDANT KHAITAN v. AD-HOC COMMITTEE FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION OF INDIA & ORS

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