The High Court of Manipur has declined to stay the election of the President of the Manipur Cricket Association (MNCA) but restrained the incumbent from taking major financial decisions, pending adjudication of a writ petition challenging the validity of the election.
The interim order was passed on February 13, 2026, by Justice A. Guneshwar Sharma in WP(C) No. 120 of 2026 filed by Ngangbam Robert Singh, a candidate for the post of President in the MNCA elections held on January 21, 2026.
The petitioner has challenged the election of respondent No. 6 as President of the MNCA, alleging violations of the Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of the association. It was contended that only Full Members under Rule 3(a)(i) and (ii) are entitled to contest and vote in elections, whereas Associate Members under Rule 3(a)(iii) are not eligible to participate in the electoral process, though they may attend General or Special Body meetings.
According to the petitioner, the MNCA comprises 24 Full Members and 8 Associate Members. He alleged that respondent No. 4, the Citizen Development Committee, was listed as an Associate Member and registered only on February 9, 2022, thereby becoming eligible for upgradation to Full Member status only on February 8, 2027, after completion of the stipulated five-year probation period under Rule 3(d). During this period, Associate Members are required to participate in all age-group tournaments conducted by the association.
It was further alleged that the Electoral Officer wrongly included respondent No. 4 as a Full Member in the final Electoral Roll dated January 10, 2026, which showed 39 Full Members and their representatives as eligible electors. The petitioner argued that the preparation of the electoral roll was contrary to the association’s rules and that respondent No. 4 and its representative, respondent No. 6, were not entitled to participate in the election either as a candidate or voter.
The petitioner sought a stay on the election of the President or, alternatively, a direction restraining the elected body from taking decisions involving major financial implications.
During the hearing, senior counsel for the MNCA raised the issue of maintainability, contending that the writ petition was in the nature of an election petition and that the election process had been conducted in accordance with the bye-laws and resolutions of the association. The Court permitted the respondents to raise all such objections in their counter affidavit.
Upon perusal of the records, including the electoral roll and proceedings of the January 21 election, the Court noted that the Electoral Officer had considered objections and treated respondent No. 4 as a Full Member, observing that it had also been treated as such in the previous election held on June 27, 2024. The petitioner had reportedly preferred an appeal before the Board of Control for Cricket in India against that decision.
While the Court declined to stay the election of respondent No. 6 as President, it observed that respondent No. 4 was registered only on February 9, 2022, and would become eligible for Full Membership only on February 8, 2027. In view of these circumstances, the Court directed that the present incumbent shall not take major financial decisions, except for routine day-to-day affairs, conducting tournaments and camps, and sending teams to participate in competitions.
Notice has been issued to the respondents, and they have been granted liberty to seek vacation of the interim order. The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 10, 2026.