Kataka: The dispute over the deferment of elections to the office-bearer posts of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) took a fresh turn on Thursday, with affidavits filed by its president Pankaj Lochan Mohanty and secretary Sanjay Kumar Behera presenting differing positions before the Orissa High Court.
In his affidavit, Mohanty stated that the OCA is a full member of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is dependent on grants from the apex cricket body. He said the BCCI constitution, framed in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions and recommendations of the Justice R M Lodha Committee, prescribes a three-year tenure for office-bearers of state cricket associations.
According to the affidavit, any violation of the BCCI constitution or bye-laws could lead to the OCA losing BCCI grants and, if the situation continued for two consecutive years, its membership recognition could be withdrawn.
Mohanty further stated that the OCA had earlier proceeded on the understanding that cricket was covered by the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, while there was uncertainty over whether the BCCI came under its purview. He said the Union Sports Ministry’s December 22, 2025 directive had kept elections to national sports federations in abeyance until December 31, 2026. Against this backdrop, and in view of an international match scheduled at Barabati Stadium on December 9, 2025, the OCA Special General Meeting on August 31, 2025 decided to defer the elections, with the General Body approving continuation of the existing office-bearers.
However, Mohanty said the BCCI’s reply in the court proceedings had subsequently made it clear that neither the BCCI nor state cricket associations fall under the National Sports Governance Act. He maintained that the OCA, being a permanently recognised BCCI member and following its Memorandum of Association and rules, could not adopt a position contrary to that of the BCCI.
The BCCI, in its affidavit, has maintained that the OCA cannot keep its elections in abeyance indefinitely and should hold them in accordance with its bye-laws, the BCCI’s MoA and Supreme Court directions. It has stated that an office-bearer’s tenure is three years, with a maximum of three terms, and that a three-year cooling-off period applies after two consecutive terms.
The position attributed to OCA secretary Behera is different. His affidavit states that the decision to defer the elections was a collective decision approved by the General Body. It said the issue was discussed at meetings on August 31, 2025 and February 22, 2026, with the latter meeting approving the deferment by majority vote to study the implications of the National Sports Governance Act.
The High Court has fixed September 22 for detailed hearing of the matter. A Division Bench headed by Justice Mruganka Shekhar Sahoo passed the direction while hearing the petition filed by Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mahapatra and Sunrise Club.
