The Supreme Court has asked the BCCI and state cricket associations why they should not come under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant raised the question while hearing continuing applications linked to cricket administration. The court also asked lawyers to seek instructions on whether the service conditions and terms of office-bearers should be governed by the new law. The development comes after years of Supreme Court intervention and continuing litigation over the management of Indian cricket.Why Should NSG Act Govern BCCI?The Supreme Court’s latest question puts the BCCI and state cricket bodies under renewed scrutiny over their governance structure. The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, establishes a legal framework covering governance, recognition, ethical standards and dispute resolution for sports bodies. The court has not yet ordered that the BCCI must immediately come under the Act; it has sought responses from the cricket bodies on why they should remain outside its framework.The Supreme Court questioned BCCI’s exclusion from the NSG Act.State cricket associations have also been asked to respond.The court raised the issue of office-bearers’ service conditions.The NSG Act came into force from January 1, 2026.The move could affect long-running cricket governance litigation.Cricket Governance Faces ReviewThe Supreme Court has been dealing with BCCI-related matters since 2014. During this process, it appointed a committee headed by former Chief Justice R M Lodha to recommend reforms for the cricket body. The court later accepted major recommendations and approved a new BCCI constitutional framework aimed at improving governance and accountability.In September 2022, the court permitted important changes to the BCCI constitution concerning the tenure and cooling-off rules for office-bearers. Under the modified arrangement, an office-bearer could serve consecutive terms at the state association and BCCI levels before a cooling-off period applied. Several applications concerning cricket administration have continued to reach the court since then.Also Read: Raúl Flores Breaks Deadlift World Record With Historic 511kg Lift In BirminghamNSG Act Brings New FrameworkThe National Sports Governance Act was enacted in August 2025 and became operational from January 2026. It provides for governance standards, recognition of national sports bodies and mechanisms for resolving sports-related disputes. The framework also provides for a National Sports Board to oversee recognition and compliance with governance, financial and ethical standards.The Sports Ministry has also notified rules under the Act. The Supreme Court’s latest intervention is significant because applying the framework to cricket could change how certain administrative disputes and governance questions involving the BCCI and state associations are handled. However, the court has only sought responses at this stage and has not issued a final ruling bringing the cricket bodies under the law.Key HighlightsSupreme Court questioned the BCCI’s exclusion from the NSG Act.State cricket associations are also part of the court’s query.CJI Surya Kant led the three-judge bench hearing the matter.The court has handled BCCI-related litigation since 2014.The Lodha Committee earlier recommended major BCCI reforms.The NSG Act has been operational since January 2026.What Happens NextThe BCCI and state cricket associations will now have to respond to the Supreme Court’s questions. The court’s intervention highlights the continuing debate over how cricket administration should be regulated in India. Any decision to bring these bodies under the NSG Act could have implications for their governance structures, office-bearer rules and handling of disputes.For now, the Supreme Court has sought clarification rather than issued a final direction. The next proceedings will indicate whether the court considers the existing BCCI framework sufficient or whether the broader National Sports Governance framework should apply to Indian cricket bodies.Disclaimer: This article is provided only for knowledge and news-information purposes. The Supreme Court’s latest query should not be treated as a final ruling unless and until the court issues further directions.
