The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and state cricket associations on why they should not come under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The court also sought to know why the terms and conditions governing the service of their office-bearers should not be covered by the legislation, which is already in force.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, raised the issue while hearing applications submitted by several cricket bodies in the long-running BCCI case. The matter has remained before the Supreme Court since 2014, with various applications being filed over the years.
The bench directed lawyers representing the BCCI and state cricket associations to seek instructions on the matter. The court is considering whether the 2025 legislation should extend to the BCCI and its affiliated state units, including the service conditions applicable to their office-bearers.
Previously, the Supreme Court had appointed a committee led by former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha to recommend reforms for the BCCI, including the drafting of a new constitution. The court subsequently accepted the committee's recommendations, paving the way for changes in the cricket body's structure, administration and functioning.
In September 2022, the Supreme Court approved amendments to the BCCI constitution and ruled that an office-bearer could serve for a continuous period of up to 12 years, comprising six years in a state cricket association and another six years at the BCCI, followed by a three-year cooling-off period.
The court also ruled that an office-bearer could hold the same position for two successive terms at both the BCCI and state association levels, after which a three-year cooling-off period would become compulsory.
Previously, the BCCI constitution approved by the Supreme Court had stipulated a three-year cooling-off period for individuals who had completed two consecutive three-year terms either in a state cricket association or within the BCCI.
