JKCA To Hold Long-Delayed Elections After Eight Years | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: After a gap of nearly eight years, the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) is set to conduct elections for its office bearers and Apex Council on January 16 at GGM Science College in Jammu, marking a significant step towards restoring democratic governance in the Union Territory’s cricket administration.

Affiliated members of the JKCA welcomed the announcement, describing it as a long-overdue move that could help normalise cricket administration and revive the sport in Jammu and Kashmir, which had remained mired in disputes and prolonged litigation for years.

Speaking at a press conference, members said the elections were being held in compliance with directions issued by the Supreme Court. They also acknowledged the role of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Mithun Manhas, whose personal intervention, they said, helped break the administrative deadlock and facilitate the electoral process.

The association had been under administrative uncertainty due to internal disputes and court cases, which stalled elections and paralysed decision-making. Efforts to resolve club-level disagreements were first taken up in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and later by Justice L Narsimha Reddy, appointed by the BCCI, who verified records and finalised the list of eligible representatives for voting.

Members noted that petitions filed by certain clubs, which had earlier been flagged by the 2015 working committee over alleged financial irregularities, were disposed of by the Supreme Court. The apex court upheld the suspension of their voting rights, clearing the way for the polls.

Another member said years of disputes and mismanagement had adversely affected cricket in the region. While interim administrators dismantled the old system, he said the structure introduced under BCCI supervision brought professionalism, transparency and accountability to JKCA functioning.

According to members, player selection processes for both men’s and women’s teams have also become more merit-based in recent years, resulting in improved performances and better talent development.

Calling the forthcoming elections a historic and corrective measure, members urged all stakeholders to support the process and focus on strengthening cricket infrastructure and nurturing local talent across Jammu and Kashmir.

The elections will be conducted under the supervision of A K Jyoti, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, who was appointed by the Supreme Court to ensure strict adherence to the court-approved JKCA Constitution.

In its order in the case titled Youth Cricket Club and Others versus JKCA and Others, the Supreme Court had directed that the elections be completed within 12 weeks, bringing an end to prolonged litigation that had stalled the association’s functioning for years.