SC Stays Goa Weightlifting Coach Recruitment Process Over Bias Allegations

The Supreme Court, vide order dated July 7, 2025, stayed a Bombay High Court direction that had allowed the recruitment process for the post of weightlifting coach with the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) to proceed.[1]

The petitioner, Vaishanvi S. Ugadekar, alleged bias in the process, asserting that an examiner in one of the preliminary tests was unqualified and also her former coach, against whom she had previously filed harassment complaints. She argued this resulted in her being unfairly marked down in the skill test.

Following her representation, the Goa government decided to defer the written examination for the weightlifting category and to reconduct the physical and skill tests with independent examiners.

Meanwhile, another candidate, Mahesh P. Kavlekar (Respondent No. 4 herein), who had already cleared the physical and skill tests and qualified for the written exam, challenged the deferment before the Bombay High Court. On June 23, 2025, the High Court ruled that the process could not be postponed merely because of a complaint and directed that the written exam proceed as scheduled on June 26.

The Supreme Court has now stayed this direction, effectively halting the recruitment process until further orders.

[1] Vaishnavi S. Ugadekar v. State of Goa and Ors. [SLP(C) No. 18357/2025].