Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Supreme Court has overturned a 2025 High Court ruling linked to the recruitment of a Weightlifting Coach (Grade IV) in Goa, directing a fresh hearing after finding that candidate Vaishnavi S. Ugadekar was not given an opportunity to participate in the earlier proceedings.
The apex court has instructed the High Court of Bombay at Goa to bring Ugadekar on record as a party and reconsider the dispute after hearing both candidates competing for the post.
The legal dispute originated during the Goa government’s recruitment process for the coaching position. Ugadekar raised objections regarding the fairness of the selection procedure and submitted a complaint to the appropriate state government authority.
Following the complaint, the authority ordered the selection tests to be held again. The rival candidate challenged this decision before the High Court.
On June 23, 2025, the High Court decided the petition without including Ugadekar in the case. She subsequently approached the Supreme Court through a special leave petition, arguing that the proceedings had taken place without her being heard, despite her direct interest in the appointment.
The Supreme Court noted that Ugadekar and the rival candidate were the only two contenders for the position. It held that the matter should be reconsidered by the High Court after both parties are given an opportunity to present their respective cases.
Accordingly, the apex court set aside the earlier judgment and restored the original writ petition for fresh adjudication. The High Court will now examine the dispute on its merits, with Ugadekar formally included in the proceedings.
The Supreme Court’s decision concerns the fairness of the earlier hearing; the underlying dispute over the recruitment process remains to be decided by the High Court.
Advocate Salvador Santosh Rebello appeared for Ugadekar, assisted by Advocates Sneha Bhargava, Ankit Rana and Devesh Khandelwal.
