Sports Act: Supreme Court asks BCCI to explain stance

The Supreme Court’s poser to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over National Sports Governance Act should lead to clarity eventually. The apex court has asked the BCCI to explain why it and the state associations should not come under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

The question was raised on Tuesday (September 8) by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana while hearing petitions filed by several state associations.

The bench asked the advocates appearing for the BCCI and state cricket associations to take instructions on why the terms and conditions of service of their office bearers should not be governed by the 2025 Act, which is now in force, Live Law reported. The BCCI lawyers are expected to clear their stand soon.

BCCI officials were not immediately available for comment, but the board’s stance is clear from its submissions in another case. It has previously argued that the National Sports Governance Act does not apply to the BCCI.

“...even though the National Sports Governance Act 2025 has been enacted, the sport of cricket has not been notified as a designated sport for the National Sports Governance Act to apply,” the BCCI submitted before the Odisha High Court in a case relating to the election of the Odisha Cricket Association.

Exactly what the BCCI’s opposition to the Sports Act is has not been explained in that affidavit. Its long-standing position, however, has been that since the BCCI does not receive government grants, it should not come under the Act.

Besides, the Sports Act provides for a statutory regulator and recognition authority under which national sports bodies would come. They could also come under the ambit of the RTI Act. The BCCI has been long opposed to that clause.

Otherwise, the BCCI follows the Supreme Court-approved, amended Lodha Committee recommendations, under which an office-bearer can hold position for two consecutive terms, followed by a three-year cooling-off period. With the BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for September 18 in Mumbai, a discussion on the subject is likely.

Dhumal files nomination

It has been learnt that IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal of Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram’s Khairul Jamal Majumdar have filed their nominations for the IPL Governing Council positions from the general body. Both are set to be re-elected to the council. The election will be held at the AGM.

In another development, BCCI electoral officer AK Joti barred the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) and the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) from participating in the AGM. Pranav Amin and Desh Rattan Dubey were the nominated representatives of the two associations, respectively, but, under the electoral officer’s order, they will not be allowed to participate in the AGM.

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