The Manipur High Court has directed the Manipur Cricket Association (MCA) not to finalize its ongoing recruitment and procurement processes until the next hearing in a case challenging the functioning of the association’s present leadership.
The interim direction was issued by Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh while hearing MC(WP(C)) No. 439 of 2026 filed by Ngangbam Robert Singh in connection with the pending writ petition concerning the affairs of the MCA.
The applicant sought a restraining order against the MCA and other respondents from proceeding with an advertisement issued on May 29, 2026, for the recruitment of coaches, technical staff and selection committee members for various men’s and women’s cricket teams for the 2026-27 BCCI domestic season. The application also challenged a quotation notice issued on the same date for procurement-related activities.
Senior Advocate K.N. Choudhury, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the recruitment and procurement initiatives violated an earlier interim order passed by the High Court on February 13, 2026. According to the petitioner, the court had permitted the present MCA management only to undertake routine activities such as day-to-day administration, conducting tournaments and camps, and sending teams for competitions, while restraining it from taking major financial decisions.
The respondents, represented by Senior Advocate N. Umakanta, denied any violation of the court’s earlier directions and sought time to file objections to the fresh application. Counsel for some of the respondents also requested that the matter be taken up on a later date as the lead senior counsel was out of station.
After hearing the parties, the court decided to consider the matter on merits on June 19, 2026, the date earlier fixed for final disposal of the case. However, pending such consideration, the court clarified that respondents, particularly the MCA office-bearers and concerned authorities, shall not finalize the recruitment and procurement processes initiated through the advertisement and quotation notice dated May 29, 2026.
The order does not cancel the recruitment or procurement exercise but temporarily prevents the MCA from completing or awarding appointments and contracts until further orders of the court.