Earlier, the Supreme Court had set up a committee headed by former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha to suggest reform measures for the cash-rich cricket body, including framing its constitution.

Supreme Court asks if BCCI should come under Sports Governance Act

The Supreme Court asked the BCCI and state cricket associations why they should not be governed by the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The move could bring office-bearers' tenure and service conditions under a uniform legal framework.

by · India Today

In Short

  • SC sought instructions from cricket bodies on applying the new law
  • Matter arises in the long-running BCCI case pending since 2014
  • SC had earlier accepted Lodha committee reforms for BCCI's functioning

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and all state cricket associations why they should not be governed by the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The court also asked why the service terms and conditions of their office-bearers should not be brought under the law, which is now in force.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana made the observation while hearing applications filed by some cricket bodies in the long-pending BCCI matter. The case has been before the top court since 2014, with several applications being filed in it from time to time.

The bench asked advocates appearing for the BCCI and the state cricket associations to take instructions on the issue. The court is examining whether the 2025 Act should apply to the cricket body and its affiliated state units, including the terms and conditions of service of their office-bearers.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had set up a committee headed by former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha to suggest reform measures for the cash-rich cricket body, including framing its constitution. The court later accepted the committee's recommendations, which provided for changes in the structure, organisation and functioning of the BCCI.

In September 2022, the Supreme Court allowed changes to the BCCI constitution and said an office-bearer could have a continuous tenure of 12 years, including six years in a state association and six years in the BCCI, before a three-year cooling-off period would apply.

The court had also said an office-bearer could serve in a particular post for two consecutive terms at both the BCCI and state association levels, after which a three-year cooling-off period would be mandatory.

Earlier, the BCCI constitution approved by the court had required a three-year cooling-off period for anyone who had served two consecutive terms of three years each in either a state cricket association or the BCCI.

- Ends