High time courts stay away from sports matters, says SC

The Supreme Court on Monday indicated that it is high time for the judiciary to refrain from intervening in matters related to sports, including cricket.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta made the observation while hearing a petition challenging a Madhya Pradesh High Court order related to the functioning and administrative decisions of the Jabalpur division cricket association, highlighting ongoing disputes over governance, appointments, and management of cricketing affairs in the region.

“There is nothing like sport now in cricket. It is a fact. It is all business,” the bench remarked. Justice Nath, highlighting the frequency of such cases, asked the lawyers, “Today, we are playing cricket. Three-four matters. One is already adjourned for the second round. This is the second one. There are two more. How many test matches will you play today?” By “three-four matters,” the bench meant that the court was hearing three or four separate cases related to cricket and other sports on the same day, using cricket terminology as a metaphor to underline the volume of such petitions.

The petitioner's counsel noted the country’s obsession with cricket, prompting Justice Nath to comment, “I think it is high time that this court should keep it s hands off in cricket and badminton, volleyball, basketball.”

The counsel argued that these matters reach the apex court because of heightened stakes arising from commercialisation. “In any game which has become commercialised, that is bound to happen,” the counsel added.

The bench, however, expressed reluctance to entertain the plea, signaling its intent to stay away from disputes involving sports associations unless absolutely necessary.