In Brief
The Supreme Court ruled that governance reforms mandated for athletics in S. Nithya v. Union of India—including 75% eminent sportsperson membership and sportsperson-only office-bearers—do not apply to cricket associations. Cricket is governed by a separate, court-approved framework established in BCCI v. Cricket Association of Bihar, which does not prescribe such requirements. The Court held that Article 19(1)(c) protects the voluntary internal composition of associations, and courts cannot judicially mandate structural reforms absent explicit statutory mandate. District cricket associations need not replicate the BCCI Constitution. The Court emphasized sport's role in fostering national cohesion and directed expeditious resolution of pending membership disputes and statutory inquiries.
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