Meghalaya HC Verdict Puts Sports Governance Under Spotlight; Senior Lawyer Saurabh Mishra Stresses Athlete Safety and Accountability
Shillong, Oct 31: The Meghalaya High Court’s decision to uphold the suspension of Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) Honorary Secretary Rayanold Kharkamni has sent a significant message on accountability in sports administration, with Supreme Court senior lawyer Saurabh Mishra describing the verdict as an important development in strengthening good governance in Indian sport.
In an exclusive reaction to The Meghalayan Express, Mishra said the judgment underlined that administrative autonomy enjoyed by sports organisations cannot take precedence over their fundamental responsibility to protect athletes and other stakeholders from harassment.
“The Meghalaya High Court’s judgment is an important development in strengthening accountability and good governance in Indian sports. Sports bodies may enjoy administrative autonomy, but such autonomy cannot override the fundamental responsibility to ensure a safe, dignified and harassment-free environment for athletes and stakeholders,” Mishra said.
The observation assumes wider significance at a time when questions of athlete welfare, institutional accountability and transparency are increasingly central to discussions on sports administration in India.
On Friday, Justice H.S. Thangkhiew upheld the suspension of Kharkamni, imposed by MCA president James P.K. Sangma on June 27 under the emergency provisions of the association’s constitution. The court held that the suspension was a valid interim administrative measure and could not be termed arbitrary.
The judgment took note of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women’s findings concerning sexual harassment complaints within the association, including its observation about the alleged suppression of official complaint emails dating back to December 2025.
The court held that the protective measure was justified while the formal disciplinary enquiry was referred to the MCA Ombudsman.
Mishra said the court’s emphasis on interim protection and implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, 2013, carried an important message for sports organisations.
“The Court’s recognition of interim protective measures and emphasis on effective implementation of the POSH Act, 2013, sends a strong message that complaints of harassment cannot be ignored, suppressed or dealt with through internal power struggles,” he said.
