District Kathua Cricket Association's plea for inclusion in JKCA Electoral College dismissed; Supreme Court's directive on JKCA elections reaffirmed.
In a significant ruling, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has dismissed the writ petition filed by the District Kathua Cricket Association and others, seeking inclusion in the Electoral College for the forthcoming Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) elections. The court upheld the Supreme Court's directive, stating that the elections must be conducted in accordance with the approved constitution of JKCA, which does not provide for the inclusion of District Cricket Associations.
The case, presided over by Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi, revolved around whether District Cricket Associations should have voting rights in the JKCA elections. The petitioners argued that their involvement in grassroots cricket activities merited their inclusion as stakeholders, in line with the recommendations of the Lodha Committee approved by the Supreme Court.
However, the court emphasized that the Supreme Court’s order dated October 27, 2025, clearly directed elections as per the approved JKCA constitution. The constitution, as it stands, does not list District Cricket Associations as members eligible to vote. The High Court noted that it cannot extend the scope of the Supreme Court’s directives to include new stakeholders, thereby rejecting the petitioners’ plea to halt the election process until their inclusion.
The judgment noted that only twenty-five cricket clubs are recognized in the JKCA’s Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations Amended, 2018, while District Cricket Associations are not included. Consequently, the petitioners were deemed ineligible for voting rights in the Electoral College.
The petitioners further contended that their exclusion was unjust, given their role in promoting cricket at the grassroots level. They cited earlier directions from the Supreme Court and the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, which suggested consulting all stakeholders, including District Cricket Associations, during constitutional amendments.
Despite these arguments, the High Court reiterated that the Supreme Court's order does not grant District Cricket Associations the right to vote or participate in the JKCA electoral process. The High Court, therefore, found no merit in the writ petition and dismissed it, along with connected matters, without costs.
The decision underscores the judicial boundaries in adhering to Supreme Court directives, especially in sports governance, where constitutional provisions are strictly followed. This ruling is a notable affirmation of the Supreme Court’s authority in dictating terms for the conduct of elections within state cricket associations.
Bottom Line:
District Cricket Associations do not have a fundamental right to be included in the Electoral College of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) as per the approved constitution of JKCA.
Statutory provision(s): Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association Constitution, Supreme Court Order dated 27.10.2025, Recommendations of the Lodha Committee.
