BCCI ombudsman disqualifies KSCA secretary Santosh Menon

BENGALURU: In a blow to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) administration, the BCCI ombudsman has disqualified secretary Santosh Menon on the grounds that he has completed a cumulative tenure of nine years.Based on a complaint filed by Dolphin Cricketers, an institutional member of the KSCA, the ombudsman said that Menon could not continue after completing his nine-year tenure and that the post was declared vacant.Justice Arun Mishra (rtd), Ombudsman, in an order dated June 24, said Menon’s term ended on December 16, 2025, nine days after he took charge following the December 7 elections.“Rules under the contemplation provision. Respondent No. 3 (Menon) has completed a cumulative period of 9 years as a member of the management committee and as an office bearer; he is disqualified under 6B(3)(g),” the ombudsman said in his order.Menon had completed nine years in office, including a period when he was a member of the management committee, and the order stated that the tenure of a member of the MoI could not be excluded from the nine-year term.“Rules 6A and 6(B)(2)(e) will not come to the rescue in case a person holds different posts, then the time for all the posts must be cumulated as per Rule 6(B)(2)(g) of the KSCA Rules. The same is provided in Rule 3(b)(i) of the BCCI Constitution which cannot hold more than 9 years in a post.”“The officer is also a member of the management committee or the apex council. Hence, it is clear that his tenure must be accumulated for holding the post of the management committee as ‘candidate’ or ‘member of the management committee’ otherwise the whole purpose of the nine-year cap for both the BCCI and the state association would be undermined,” the order said.Justice Mishra further observed that Article 41 of the KSCA constitution relating to tenure of office bearers is not embargoed in this dispute.The Ombudsman subsequently directed the BCCI and the KSCA to take further appropriate action.Reacting to the order, KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad said the association would seek legal redress.“We have taken note of the order passed by the BCCI Ombudsman and are currently scrutinizing it in detail. We are seeking appropriate legal advice to evaluate 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 because the order dated February 5, 2026 passed by the Hon’ble KSCA Ombudsman, Justice (Retd.) AS Bopanna, which is binding on all members as per the KSCA Ordinance, but unfortunately the BCCI Ombudsman has taken a contrary view on the issue. The legal effect and interplay of the two orders are present under scrutiny.”