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Ranchi District Cricket Association: Questions over transparency and governance in the Ranchi District Cricket Association (RDCA) have intensified.
Former Honorary Secretary Sunil Kumar Singh has demanded an investigation into the association’s elections, financial accounts and administrative functioning.
Singh has written to Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) Honorary Secretary Saurabh Tiwari.
His letter raises concerns over RDCA’s compliance with the Lodha Committee reforms and the JSCA constitution.
Questions Over Elections and Financial Transparency
In his complaint, Singh alleges that RDCA has not conducted regular elections or annual general meetings since 2013.
He also questions the association’s registration status and financial accountability.
According to the letter, Avinash Kumar, an IAS officer, has headed RDCA since 2013 through nomination.
Singh questions the continuation of this arrangement without regular elections.
He also alleges that the association has not shared audited financial accounts with its affiliated clubs and members.
He has demanded transparency in financial management and administrative decisions.
The former secretary wants JSCA to examine RDCA’s registration, election procedures and office-bearers’ tenure.
He has also sought access to the association’s financial records.
Andhra Cricket Association Order Cited
Singh has cited an important precedent from the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA). On November 10, 2020, its Ombudsman issued an order in the case involving V. Prabhu Prasad and others.
The order directed the Krishna District Cricket Association (KDCA) to implement Supreme Court-approved Lodha reforms.
It gave the association two months to adopt the necessary changes through its governing bodies.
The Ombudsman also stated that the existing governing body would cease to exist if it failed to implement the reforms within the stipulated period.
The ACA would then arrange an alternative management structure.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court upheld the relevant Ombudsman order on March 16, 2022.
Singh has cited this judgment to support his demand for similar action.
He has also referred to another ACA-related order from 2022.
That order linked compliance with governance rules to eligibility for grants and financial assistance.
Supreme Court Proceedings Bring Sports Governance into Focus
The complaint also refers to significant Supreme Court proceedings concerning cricket administration across the country.
On September 8, 2026, a three-judge bench heard matters in Civil Appeal No. 4235/2014.
The case concerns the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Cricket Association of Bihar.
The bench comprised Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana.
The court directed BCCI and all state cricket associations to explain why they had not implemented the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
It also asked why the terms and conditions governing elected or appointed office-bearers should not follow the parliamentary legislation.
Singh’s October 28 letter also refers to the October 27 proceedings. He says the bench indicated that it would first address broader issues before examining individual matters.
However, the September 8 written order specifically records the court’s direction to BCCI and state associations. It does not establish any final finding against RDCA.
What Has Singh Demanded?
Singh has placed five major demands before JSCA:
- Uniform district association rules: Prepare model bylaws for all district associations in line with Lodha reforms and the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.
- Time-bound compliance: Direct RDCA to complete the required reforms within two months. He wants JSCA to appoint an ad hoc committee if the association fails.
- Suspension of voting rights: Freeze RDCA’s voting rights at JSCA’s annual general meetings until it meets the required governance standards.
- Financial disclosure: Direct RDCA to submit ten years of audited accounts, AGM and SGM minutes, and its affiliated clubs’ list.
- Regulatory intervention: Forward the complaint to the Supreme Court’s amicus curiae and the National Sports Board for appropriate consideration.
Spotlight on Cricket Administration in Jharkhand
The complaint raises wider questions about accountability within district cricket associations.
It also places the spotlight on JSCA’s responsibility towards its affiliated units.
The National Sports Governance Act, 2025, adds another dimension to the dispute. The Supreme Court’s September 8 order has brought the legislation’s implementation into focus.
Singh wants JSCA to examine RDCA’s functioning and take action wherever it finds violations.
He has requested the association to treat his representation as a formal complaint under Rules 40 and 41 of the BCCI Constitution.
The matter now raises important questions about elections, financial transparency and institutional accountability in Jharkhand cricket.
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