Supreme Court Upholds Stay on Maharashtra Cricket Association Elections, Flags Membership Irregularities

The Supreme Court refused to lift the Bombay High Court’s stay on the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) elections, citing serious concerns over the late inclusion of nearly 400 members, and directed the matter back to the High Court

New Delhi | 04 February, 2026:The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to overturn the Bombay High Court’s interim order that stayed the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Apex Council elections, originally scheduled for January 6, saying the matter should continue before the High Court.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, noted that the High Court’s decision to halt the polls was justified and stopped what it termed a potential “bigger fraud.” The Supreme Court observed that the MCA should raise its arguments before the Bombay High Court, where the case remains pending.

The controversy centers around the sudden induction of nearly 400 new members into the MCA general body just weeks before the polls a development that critics argued could significantly alter the outcome of the elections. Petitioners, including former Indian cricketer and BJP leader Kedar Jadhav, alleged that the late entries included individuals with close ties to MCA President and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar, including family members and associates, and that due process was ignored.

The Bombay High Court had expressed a prima facie view that sufficient opportunity was not provided to objectors to challenge the inclusion of such a large number of members. It remarked that this sudden surge in the voter list could fundamentally change the electoral landscape and possibly the MCA constitution itself.

During arguments in the Supreme Court, senior counsel for the MCA contended that the High Court’s intervention was untimely. However, the top court remained unconvinced, affirming that since the matter is sub judice before the High Court, the appropriate forum for arguments is there.

As the legal battle continues, the next hearing is expected before the Bombay High Court, where all parties will present their cases on the legality and fairness of member admissions and the electoral process.

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