Cuttack: Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) president Pankaj Lochan Mohanty stated in an affidavit filed before the Orissa High Court that organisational elections cannot be deferred in violation of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rules.
“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 said in the affidavit.
“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.”
OCA elections were due in October 2025, but the association’s general body voted to defer polls indefinitely.
The OCA had earlier submitted before the high court that the impact of the National Sports Governance Act must first be assessed before elections are held. The state cricket body quoted recommendations of Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, seeking postponement of elections to sports bodies until December 2026.
OCA’s secretary Sanjay Behera, treasurer Bikash Pradhan and president Mohanty himself have 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.
The BCCI had told the high 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,” BCCI had said in its affidavit.