BCCI Ombudsman disqualifies KSCA secretary Santosh Menon after completing maximum term Cricket News:

BENGALURU: In a blow to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) administration, the BCCI ombudsman has disqualified secretary Santosh Menon for completing a cumulative nine-year tenure.Based on a complaint filed by Dolphin Cricketers, a KSCA institutional member, the ombudsman said that Menon, after nine years in office, could not continue, and that the position was declared vacant.Justice Arun Mishra (rtd), the ombudsman, in an order dated June 24, said Menon’s tenure ended on December 16, 2025, nine days after he was impeached after the elections held on December 7.“Rules under the cooling off provision. Respondent No. 3: [Menon] completed a cumulative term of 9 years as a member of the Managing Committee and as an office bearer; he is disqualified u/s 6B(3)(g),” the Ombudsman stated in his order.Menon has served nine years in office, including his term as a managing committee member, and the order pointed out that the term served as an MC member cannot be included in the nine-year tenure.“The provisions of 6A and 6 (B) (2) (e) do not come to save the case of a person holding different posts, then the period for all the posts should be cumulated under Rule 6(B)(2)(g) of the KSCA Rules. Same provided in Rule 3(b)(i) of the BCCI ‘constitution’ may not be more than 9 years.“The office bearer is also a member of the Managing Committee or Apex Council. Thus, it is apparent that his tenure should be cumulative for holding the position of the Managing Committee as ‘office bearer’ or as ‘Member of the Managing Committee’, otherwise the entire purpose of the nine-year cap each for BCCI and State association will be diluted,” the order said.Justice Mishra further observed that Rule 41 of the KSCA constitution relating to tenure of office holders is not an embargo on the present dispute.As a result the ombudsman directed the BCCI and KSCA to take further appropriate steps.Reacting to the order, KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad said in a statement that the association would seek legal recourse.“We have taken note of the order passed by the BCCI Ombudsman and are now examining it in detail. Appropriate legal advice is being sought to explore all remedies and options available under the law,” Prasad said.He also pointed to an earlier order by the KSCA ombudsman, which ruled that Menon was eligible.“This is especially so since the order dated 05 February 2026 was passed by the Hon’ble Ombudsman of the KSCA, Justice (Retd.) AS Bopanna, binding all members under the KSCA Bye-laws, but unfortunately the BCCI ombudsman has taken a contrary view on the issue.