The Supreme Court on Thursday (July 9) adjourned the plea against the Indian Dressage team selection for the Asian Games 2026, following Justice K.V. Viswanathan's recusal from the bench hearing the matter.

The matter was listed before a partial Court working days bench of Justice KV Viswanathan and Justice Alok Aradhe.

When the matter was called on for a hearing today, Justice Viswanathan expressed that he had to recuse, and accordingly, the matter was directed to be re-listed before an appropriate bench under the direction of the Chief Justice of India.

Later, the petitioner's counsel mentioned the matter before the senior most bench available today, the bench led by Justice Amanullah, who allowed the listing of the matter tomorrow.

To recap, a Single Bench of the High Court dismissed two writ petitions filed by riders Sudipti Hajela and Anush Agarwalla challenging the selection list issued by EFI's Ad-hoc Committee on June 16, 2026, for the Dressage discipline at the Asian Games scheduled to be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

Both petitioners had been placed on the reserve list and sought inclusion in the final team.

Aggrieved, the petitioners appealed to a Delhi High Court's Division Bench, which refused to interfere with the selection. Although the bench noted that some of the requirements in the Selection Criteria were not complied with.

"while we do not find any infirmity in the preparation of the list of Probables in terms of Clause 13 of the Selection Criteria, we are of the view that the requirements prescribed under Clauses 15(a) and 15(b) of the Selection Criteria were not duly complied with", it said.

Despite noting the infirmity, the Division bench said it was constrained to refrain from interfering with the Selection process, as it was logistically impractical to conduct a further competition within the July 15 deadline.

"Having regard to the deadline of 15.07.2026, it is logistically impracticable to conduct a further competition within the time available, particularly since the riders and horses are located at different places across the globe and transporting horses from different locations to a common venue for conducting a competition amongst all six (6) Probables would not be possible in such a short span of time."

Aggrieved by the High Court's decision, one of the petitioners (Anush Agarwalla) approached the Supreme Court.

Cause Title: ANUSH AGARWALLA v. AD-HOC COMMITTEE FOR GOVERNANCE OF EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION OF INDIA, Diary No.39652/2026 (And connected matter)