A significant shift has emerged in the ongoing legal battle surrounding the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA), as its president, Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, has distanced himself from the body’s previous position regarding election delays. In an affidavit filed before the State High Court on Thursday, Mohanty asserted that the OCA must align with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to preserve its status and funding.
The association’s leadership, including secretary Sanjay Behera, treasurer Bikash Pradhan, and Mohanty himself, has remained in office for over six years. This tenure exceeds the constitutional limit of two three-year terms permitted for office-bearers. While the OCA previously argued in court that elections should be postponed to assess the impact of the National Sports Governance Act—citing a Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports recommendation to delay polls until December 2026—Mohanty has now taken a different path.
In his submission, Mohanty emphasized the necessity of adhering to BCCI regulations. “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,” the affidavit stated. He warned that any deviation from these rules would put both membership and financial grants from the parent body at risk under existing internal provisions.
Reiterating his position, Mohanty confirmed his support for the BCCI’s mandate, telling reporters, “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.” When specifically asked about the necessity of holding the long-overdue elections, he simply stated, “I stand with the BCCI.”
This development follows a firm stance from the BCCI, which previously informed the court that the OCA is in violation of its own bylaws and Supreme Court directions, characterizing immediate elections as “imperative.” Mohanty’s latest filing further contends that cricket does not fall under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. He argued that since the sport has not been notified as a “designated sport” and the BCCI is neither government-funded nor managed by the state, the national act is inapplicable.
As the BCCI prepares for its Annual General Meeting in Mumbai, the OCA’s internal friction remains a critical point of interest. Secretary Sanjay Behera is representing the association in these proceedings. The High Court has scheduled the next hearing for September 22, by which time the BCCI may issue formal advisories to the state unit regarding the ongoing governance impasse. The report also notes that “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 A.
Comments