Twist in OCA case; its president calls for election amid Sports Act debate

The Odisha Cricket Association’s (OCA) wrangle over its election and the applicability of the National Sports Governance Act has taken a new turn. Its president has gone against the association’s stated line and pushed for elections, overdue by almost a year.

“The Odisha Cricket Association cannot take a different stand contrary to the stand taken by the BCCI, in as much as the stand of the BCCI is in conformity with its Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations,” Pankaj Lochan Mohanty said in an affidavit, filed before the State High Court on Thursday.

“Any deviation from the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of the BCCI would render the membership as well as grant from BCCI at peril in terms of Rule 3 (b) (I) and Rule 3 (b) (3) of the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of BCCI.”

The OCA had earlier submitted before the High Court that the impact of the Sports Act must first be assessed before the elections are called for. In particular it quoted the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports recommendation seeking postponement of elections to sports bodies until December 2026.

Its secretary Sanjay Behera, treasurer Bikash Pradhan, and president Mohanty himself have all held on to their positions for more than six years, departing from the constitutional provisions barring an office-bearer from remaining in office for more than two three-year terms.

When contacted, Mohanty reiterated his stance. “On my behalf my lawyers have submitted in the court that we cannot go against the BCCI. It’s our parent body. The BCCI gives us the grants and we risk being denied the funding and derecognised,” he told Cricbuzz. Asked whether his call is for the elections, he said, “I stand with the BCCI.”

The BCCI had told the court that OCA must immediately conduct elections. “...it’s imperative that the Odisha Cricket Association should hold its election immediately. ...else it will be in violation of Odisha Cricket Association’s own bylaws, BCCI’s MoA and directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court...,” the BCCI affidavit had asserted.

Mohantry’s affidavit has dwelt on the Sports Act too. “...it was clear that no State Cricket Association of the Country comes under the purview of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The BCCI in its Counter Affidavit has categorically stated that 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 said National Sports Governance Act, 2025. It has been further emphatically stated that BCCI is not subjected to the provisions of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

“It is humbly submitted that the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of BCCI has been approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and there is no dispute that BCCI is not funded either by the Central Government or by the State Government. BCCI is a non-dependent body and is not managed by the Government,therefore, BCCI does not come under the umbrella of the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.”

The OCA president’s submission may have some bearing on the BCCI’s opposition to the Sports Act.

With the BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled in Mumbai for Friday, the BCCI may issue an advisory to the OCA. The association is being represented by secretary Behera. The High Court has posted the matter for September 22.

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