BENGALURU: In a blow to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) administration set up, the BCCI ombudsman has disqualified secretary Santosh Menon on the grounds that he had completed a cumulative nine-year tenure.Based on a complaint filed by Dolphin Cricketers, a KSCA institutional member, the ombudsman has said that Menon, having completed the nine-year tenure, cannot continue, and that the post has been declared vacant.Justice Arun Mishra (rtd), the ombudsman, in an order dated June 24, stated that Menon’s tenure ended on Dec 16, 2025, nine days after he assumed charge following the elections held on December 7.“Rules under the provision of cooling off. The Respondent No. 3 [Menon] has 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 had 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 excluded from the nine-year tenure.“The provisions of 6A and 6(B)(2)(e) do not come to the rescue in case a person is holding different posts, then the period for all the posts has to be cumulated under Rule 6(B)(2)(g) of KSCA Rules. Same is provided in Rule 3(b)(i) of the BCCI constitution, that no ‘post’ can be held for more than 9 years.”“The office bearer is also a member of the Managing Committee or Apex Council. As such, it is apparent that his tenure has to be cumulated for holding the post of Managing Committee as ‘office bearer’ or as ‘Managing Committee member’, otherwise the entire purpose of the nine-year cap each for BCCI and State association would stand diluted,” stated the order.Justice Mishra further observed that Rule 41 of the KSCA constitution relating to the tenure of office-bearers does not constitute an embargo in the present dispute.The ombudsman consequently 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 presently examining it in detail. Appropriate legal advice is being sought to evaluate all remedies and options available under the law,” Prasad stated.He also pointed towards an earlier order by the KSCA ombudsman, who had ruled Menon eligible.“This is particularly so since the order dated 05 February 2026 passed by the Hon’ble Ombudsman of the KSCA, Justice (Retd.) A.S. Bopanna, which is binding on all members under the KSCA Bye-laws, but unfortunately the BCCI ombudsman has taken a contrary view on the issue. The legal effect and interplay of the two orders are presently under examination” Prasad added.
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