Delhi High Court issues notice on Vinesh Phogat plea for maternity-return policy
The Delhi High Court in New Delhi on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, issued notice to the Centre, the Wrestling Federation of India and the Indian Olympic Association on a petition by wrestler Vinesh Phogat seeking a formal framework to facilitate women athletes’ return to competition after pregnancy. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued the notice and listed the matter for further hearing on November 18.
Vinesh Phogat, who gave birth to a child in July 2025, has told the court that upon resuming her wrestling career she was required to re-enter the competitive pathway without any accommodations for the period she was unable to compete due to maternity. The petition argues that eligibility criteria relied on performances in tournaments held during her maternity period, which she says effectively penalised her absence rather than offering an alternative route back into competition. In the plea, Ms. Phogat sought directions for a fair and structured framework for women athletes returning from maternity, transparent and objectively verifiable selection and nomination processes, and an alternative mechanism for athletes disadvantaged by maternity-related absences.
Senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, representing Ms. Phogat, told the court: "This is a larger question on lady athletes and maternity leave and impact on their ability to participate in the sport" and pointed to international standards that provide certain benefits and protection of rankings to athletes who take maternity leave. The petition asks the court to consider those protections when directing the formulation of a domestic policy. The notice requires the Centre, WFI and IOA to respond to the claims and proposals set out in Ms. Phogat’s plea.
Ms. Phogat has also challenged two show-cause notices issued by the WFI and the disciplinary proceedings initiated against her, a separate strand of the litigation included in the petition. The court asked the WFI’s counsel to obtain instructions on that aspect and listed the challenge to the notices for hearing on September 29. WFI’s counsel told the court that the federation had given Ms. Phogat two opportunities for a hearing but there had been "no show".
The WFI’s counsel further stated that a final opportunity had been granted and that the internal hearing was scheduled for September 2. The court recorded those submissions and proceeded to set the dates for the federation to provide instructions and for the separate challenge to be heard in late September.
The case will return to the Delhi High Court on November 18 for the wider petition on a structured maternity-return framework, while the challenge to the WFI notices is fixed for hearing on September 29 and the federation’s internal hearing is scheduled for September 2.