Cuttack, Sept. 18: The long-pending Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) elections took a significant turn after OCA president Pankaj Lochan Mohanty filed an affidavit before the Orissa High Court supporting the conduct of elections in line with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regulations.
The affidavit marks an important development in the ongoing legal dispute over the delayed election of OCA office-bearers, a matter that has remained unresolved for months.
President seeks polls under BCCI framework
In his submission to the High Court, Mohanty argued that the OCA elections should be conducted in accordance with the BCCI’s constitution and election procedures. He stated that since the Supreme Court has approved the BCCI’s bylaws, the Sports Governance Act, 2025, does not govern the cricket board’s electoral process.
The affidavit also noted that BCCI elections have already been held and several state cricket associations have either completed or initiated their election processes, making a similar exercise in Odisha appropriate under the same framework.
Legal battle over delayed elections
The case reached the High Court after former cricketer Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra sought judicial intervention, requesting directions for conducting the OCA elections.
With the latest affidavit now on record, the proceedings have taken a fresh direction, potentially influencing how the court addresses the prolonged delay in electing the association’s office-bearers.
Next hearing on Tuesday
The Orissa High Court has scheduled the next hearing for Tuesday, when further arguments are expected. The outcome could determine the roadmap for holding the much-awaited OCA elections and resolving the administrative uncertainty surrounding the state’s cricket body.