The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned a plea challenging the selection of India’s Dressage team for the Asian Games 2026 after Justice K.V. Viswanathan recused from hearing the matter.

The case was listed before a partial working days Bench comprising Justice K.V. Viswanathan and Justice Alok Aradhe. Following Justice Viswanathan’s recusal, the matter was directed to be placed before an appropriate Bench as per the directions of the Chief Justice of India.

Subsequently, counsel for the petitioner mentioned the matter before the Bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice Sheel Nagu, which permitted the case to be listed for hearing on Friday.

The appeal has been filed by equestrian rider Anush Agarwalla and Sudipti Hajela, challenging the Delhi High Court’s Division Bench’s refusal to interfere with the selection of the Indian Dressage team for the Asian Games 2026, scheduled to be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

Read the Division Bench Order: Delhi HC Upholds India’s Dressage Team for Asian Games 2026, Holding Fresh Trials Infeasible Before Deadline

The dispute stems from the Equestrian Federation of India’s Ad-hoc Committee’s selection list issued on June 16, 2026, under which Agarwalla and fellow rider Sudipti Hajela were placed on the reserve list instead of being included in the final team. Earlier, a Single Judge of the Delhi High Court dismissed the writ petitions filed by the two riders.

Read the Single Judge Bench Order: Delhi High Court Upholds Equestrian Federation’s Asian Games Selection; Declines to Interfere with Expert Committee’s Decision

The Division Bench subsequently upheld that decision, while observing that certain requirements under the selection criteria had not been complied with. However, it declined to interfere with the selection process, noting that it was not practically feasible to conduct a fresh competition before the July 15, 2026 deadline for finalising the team, particularly as the riders and horses were located in different parts of the world.

Aggrieved by the Division Bench’s decision, petitioners approached the Supreme Court seeking relief against the selection process.