Supreme Court Questions BCCI on National Sports Governance Act Applicability
Quick Look
The Supreme Court of India has asked the BCCI and state cricket associations to justify why they should not be brought under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025, citing ongoing litigations since 2014 and recent ministry notifications under the Act aimed at improving sports governance and reducing judicial burden.
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Why It Matters
The Supreme Court has been involved in cricket governance since 2014, following a petition by BCCI that led to constitutional reforms in 2018 based on the Justice R M Lodha committee's recommendations, with further amendments permitted in September 2022.
BCCI, Supreme Court
NEW DELHI: Tired of handling lingering litigations in cricket management for 12 years since it took up and ushered in reforms in the world’s richest cricket organisation, the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India and state associations why they should not be brought under National Sports Governance (NSG) Act, 2025. With multiple applications by different state cricket associations and their members either for minor changes in their constitution, or disputes arising from factionalism over control over the cash-rich cricket management bodies, a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana in a cryptic order at the fag-end of the day’s proceedings asked the BCCI and state affiliates why they should not be governed by the NSG Act and sought their responses. The flow of the applications in the original petition filed by BCCI in 2014, which led to framing of its constitution in August 2018 by the SC on the recommendations of Justice R M Lodha committee, continued even after the SC permitted significant amendments to the BCCI constitution in Sept 2022 relating to consecutive terms of the office bearers and cooling off period terms in office.
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In May this year, the sports ministry notified new rules under the NSG Act to improve management of sports bodies and adjudication of disputes. If the BCCI and state cricket associations agree to be covered under the NSG Act and the Rules framed thereunder, then all the litigation pending before the SC relating to the functioning and management of cricket bodies would get transferred to the sports tribunal, easing a considerable load off the already overburdened SC. NSG Act and Rules mandate a National Sports Board as the central regulatory authority responsible for recognising national sports bodies and monitoring compliance with governance, financial, and ethical standards. These also provide processes for transparent elections and tenure of elected office bearers.
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What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The BCCI and state cricket associations will respond to the Supreme Court's notice within the stipulated timeframe.
Likely · Within days
If accepted, the transfer of pending litigations to the sports tribunal will reduce the Supreme Court's caseload.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will the BCCI and state associations agree to come under the NSG Act?
- What specific changes will the NSG Act impose on cricket administration?
- How will the sports tribunal handle transferred cases compared to the Supreme Court?
