Item Nos. 8-9 IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR AT IMPHAL WP(C) No. 120 of 2026 Ngangbam Robert Singh.

…Petitioner - Versus -

Manipur Cricket Association & 5 Ors.

…Respondents With MC(WP(C)) No. 122 of 2026 B E F O R E HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE A. GUNESHWAR SHARMA

ORDER

13-02-2026 [1] Heard Mr. K. N. Choudhury, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. N. Baruah, Ms. Th. Thajamanbi, and Mr. O. Shyamprakash, learned counsel for the petitioner.

[2] The petitioner, who was a candidate for the post of President in Manipur Cricket Association (MNCA), has challenged the election of respondent No. 6 as President of Manipur Cricket Association as the same is in violation of Rule 1(r) read with Rule 3(a)(i)&(ii) and Rule 1(s) read with Rule 3(a)(iii) of the Memorandum of Association/Rules & Regulations of MNCA. It is stated that only Full Members in terms of Rule 3(a)(i) & (ii) are entitled to contest and vote in the election and Associate Members under Rule 3(a)(iii) are not entitled to participate in and vote in the election. However, they can attend the General/Special Body Meetings of the Association. Rule 3(d) provides for upgradation of Associate Members to Full Members after five years. During the probation period of 5 years, the Associate Members will have to participate in all age group tournaments conducted by MNCA. As per MoA and Rules & Regulations of MNCA, MNCA has 24 Full Members and 8 Associate Members. It is stated that the petitioner belongs to Serial No. 23 of the Full Members and the respondent No. 4, i.e. Citizen Development Committee is at Serial No. 1 of the Associate Members. Learned senior counsel for the petitioner draws the attention of this Court to the registration certificate of respondent No. 4 which shows that it was registered on 09-02-2022 and will be eligible for being a Full Member only on 08-02-2027. It is the short submission of the learned senior counsel for the petitioner that respondent No. 4 and its representative, respondent No. 6 cannot participate in the election to the post of President of MCA either as a candidate or a voter. It is submitted that the Electoral Officer, MNCA (respondent No. 5) wrongly prepared a final Electoral Roll dated 10-01-2026 consisting of 39 Full Members wherein the respondent No. 4 is shown at Serial No. 25. It is submitted that the final Electoral Roll is in contravention of the Rules & Regulations of MNCA wherein only 24 Full Members and 8 Associate Members are listed. In the writ petition, the petitioner is challenging the election in respect to the post of President in which respondent No. 6 was declared elected in the election held on 21-01-2026 and also prays for stay of the election or in the alternative, the present elected body shall not take decisions involving major financial implications.

[3] Issue notice.

[4] Ms. Daisy Abujam, learned counsel assisting Mr. N. Umakanta, learned senior counsel, accepts notice on behalf of respondent Nos. 1 & 2 and Mr. L. Somorendro Roy, learned junior Government counsel assisting Mr. S. Nepolean, learned Government Advocate, accepts notice on behalf of respondent No. 3.

[5] Petitioner is directed to take steps to respondent Nos. 4, 5 & 6 by speed post within one week and file an affidavit of proof of service.

[6] Mr. N. Umakanta, learned senior counsel for MNCA, has raised the question of maintainability of the writ petition in the present form as the writ petition is in the nature of election petition and the whole process was conducted as per bye-laws and various resolutions passed by MNCA for the development of cricket in Manipur. Learned senior counsel for MNCA may raise all these points in the counter affidavit.

[7] This Court has perused the materials on record specially the rules and regulations of MNCA and the proceedings of the election held on 21- 01-2026. The Electoral Officer (respondent No. 5) was appointed vide order dated 19-12-2025 for conducting the election of MNCA for the term 2025- 2028 and the election was to be held for f