Srinagar: In a landmark development for cricket in Jammu & Kashmir, the long phase of administrative control and uncertainty in the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) finally came to an end on Thursday after the Supreme Court of India cleared the way for the elected body to officially assume charge of the association.
The apex court vacated the stay on the declaration of JKCA election results after the petitioners withdrew their plea in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 17/2026 — Youth Cricket Club & Others vs Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association & Another. The move paved the way for the formal declaration of results of the long-delayed JKCA elections.
The Electoral Officer, former Chief Election Commissioner of India A.K. Joti (IAS Retd.), subsequently announced the results of the JKCA Elections 2025 on May 21, formally restoring elected governance to the association after nearly a decade.
As per the official results, Javid Ahmed Kitab has been elected as the President of JKCA, while Vivek Khajuria will serve as Secretary.
Newly Elected JKCA Office Bearers
Javid Ahmed Kitab – President
Desh Rattan Dubey – Vice-President
Vivek Khajuria – Secretary
Wajahat Majeed – Joint Secretary
Rajan Singh – Treasurer
Anil Kumar Koul – Member, Apex Council
Rakesh Koul – Member, Apex Council
Additionally, the Office of the Accountant General nominated Ankush Kumar, Senior Deputy Accountant General (AMG-I/Administration), to the JKCA Apex Council under Rule 22(b)(iii).
The Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA) nominated Ankita Jalla and Vikrant Taggar as members of the Apex Council under Rule 22(b)(ii).
In its official statement, JKCA thanked the Supreme Court, the Electoral Officer, member clubs and all stakeholders for ensuring what it termed a “fair, transparent and democratic” electoral process.
The association stated that it now looks forward to working collectively “in the larger interest of cricket in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.”
End of Nearly a Decade of Administrative Control
The development marks the conclusion of a prolonged and controversial administrative era in JKCA that began in 2017 when the then Jammu & Kashmir High Court removed the elected body of the association and appointed Court-Appointed Administrators (CAA). Former police officer Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari was appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to oversee the affairs of the association.
The intervention was initially seen as a temporary measure aimed at cleaning up the association and facilitating fresh elections. However, the elected structure was never restored during that phase, and the administrators along with the CEO continued to run JKCA for nearly four years without conducting elections.
In March 2021, the High Court ended the tenure of the Court-Appointed Administrators and removed the CEO, directing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to manage JKCA and ensure free and fair elections.
Following the court’s directions, BCCI constituted a sub-committee comprising former cricketer Mithun Manhas, senior advocate Sunil Sethi, and Brigadier Anil Gupta, along with a Srinagar in-charge member, to oversee the administration of JKCA.
The move once again raised hopes among clubs and stakeholders that democratic governance would soon return to the association. However, elections continued to face repeated delays, leading to growing frustration among cricket clubs and stakeholders across Jammu & Kashmir.
Election Controversy and Supreme Court Intervention
The eventual election process conducted in January 2026 became controversial after several clubs alleged manipulation in electoral rolls, changes in voting rights and procedural irregularities. Allegations were also levelled against the sub-committee and former Ombudsman regarding backdated orders and interference in the electoral process.
A group of aggrieved clubs approached the Supreme Court seeking intervention, following which the apex court allowed the elections to proceed but stayed the declaration of results on January 8, 2026.
With the petitioners now withdrawing their plea, the Supreme Court vacated the stay, enabling the Electoral Officer to formally announce the results and clear the path for the elected body to take over JKCA affairs.
A Historic Moment for J&K Cricket
The return of an elected body is being viewed by many stakeholders as a historic turning point and a rebirth for cricket administration in Jammu & Kashmir.
For the first time in almost ten years, the affairs of JKCA will once again be managed by representatives elected by affiliated cricket clubs rather than administrators or appointed committees.
Cricket stakeholders across the Union Territory now expect the new leadership to focus on strengthening grassroots cricket, improving infrastructure, ensuring transparency in administration and creating better opportunities for players from Jammu & Kashmir at the national level.
The transition is also expected to restore institutional stability within JKCA after years of legal disputes, administrative uncertainty and governance challenges.
