Kolkata: The findings of the Supreme Court-appointed Ombudsman on the functioning of Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) and, in particular, the conduct of its Sept 2025 elections served as the benchmark for the apex court’s Aug 20 order in the appointment of an administrator for the state cricket body.BCA announced the appointment by Supreme Court of former Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, as the SC-appointed administrator at a news conference addressed by BCA governing council member and convener Gyaneshwar Gautam on Friday.However, a copy of the latest Supreme Court order dated Aug 20, 2026, accessed by STOI, shows that the apex court relied extensively on the report submitted by Justice L Nageswara Rao, who had been appointed Ombudsman by the apex court to examine issues surrounding the BCA’s electoral process and functioning.The Ombudsman raised serious concerns over the manner in which the electoral college and district cricket associations (DCAs) were being managed. His report noted allegations of arbitrary removal of elected DCA office-bearers and appointment of ad-hoc committees without following due process, observing that such practices undermined the democratic functioning of the association. The report also recorded concerns over disregard of the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction in dispute-resolution matters.On the elections, the findings were particularly significant. Justice Rao said the electoral college required a “thorough reassessment” and recommended “appointment of an Administrator to verify clubs across all DCAs and ensure that only valid members formed part of the electoral college”. The report further said that any changes to the electoral college would have to follow the constitution and rules of the concerned district associations, including giving affected clubs notice and an opportunity of being heard.Most significantly, the Ombudsman concluded that the BCA elections held in 2025 “cannot be deemed to have been conducted freely and fairly”. He recommended that, after verification of DCA clubs and recalibration of the electoral college, fresh elections to the DCAs and BCA be conducted in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations.The Supreme Court subsequently appointed Justice Singh as administrator and directed him to proceed in accordance with this recommendation. The court also ordered that the recommendations come into force forthwith and be implemented.The development has prompted former BCA petitioner Aditya Verma to accuse BCA governing council member Gautam of misrepresenting the court’s order in Friday’s news conference. Clarifying that he is not currently a petitioner in the proceedings before the Supreme Court concerning this matter, Verma said it was “extremely concerning” that the order had been “misrepresented and distorted”.“It is therefore astonishing that, despite the Hon’ble Supreme Court itself closely supervising the affairs of the Bihar Cricket Association, certain individuals are attempting to present the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in a distorted manner,” Verma told STOI.His remarks came after Gautam rejected reports that BCA would have to hold fresh elections, saying there was “no such thing” in the court order.The distinction, however, lies in the sequence prescribed by the court. The order does not direct an immediate election or specify a poll date, but it makes operative the Ombudsman’s recommendation for verification and recalibration of the electoral college followed by fresh DCA and BCA elections.The matter has been listed for further hearing on Oct 8.
