The legal battle surrounding the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) elections has been given a new timeline, with the Orissa High Court scheduling the next hearing for Nov 2.
The decision, overseen by Justice Mruganka Sekhar Sahoo on Tuesday, directly hinges on an upcoming Supreme Court ruling that could redefine state cricket administration.
At the heart of the delay is the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing whether this new sports legislation applies to cricket and state-level cricket associations. With a pivotal apex court hearing set for Oct 27, the Orissa HC opted to defer the OCA matter until the national legal landscape becomes clear.
The case was brought before the High Court by former Ranji Trophy player Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra and Kataka’s Sunrise Club. The petitioners are urgently calling for fresh OCA elections. They argue that because the current elected committee’s tenure has already expired, the existing office bearers must be barred from making major policy or financial decisions. Furthermore, the petitioners have appealed for the immediate appointment of an independent administrator to manage the OCA’s day-to-day affairs until new elections can be conducted.
The immediate future of Odisha’s cricket administration now rests on the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the National Sports Governance Act later this Oct., which will pave the way for the High Court’s subsequent directives in early Nov.
