The BCCI Ombudsman has ruled that Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary Santosh Menon is not entitled to continue in office and has declared the post vacant.

The decision was taken by BCCI Ombudsman Justice Arun Mishra (Retd.) on a complaint filed by KSCA institutional member Dolphin Cricketers. The Ombudsman held that Menon had completed the maximum permissible nine-year tenure under the rules.

The complainant argued that Menon’s tenure had exceeded nine years when his stints as a KSCA Managing Committee member (December 2013 to December 2019) and as KSCA secretary (December 2019 to November 2022) were taken into account.

The complainant pointed out that when Menon was elected KSCA secretary on December 7, 2025, he had only nine days remaining before completing the nine-year limit.

The Ombudsman accepted the complainant’s argument that the nine-year tenure limit had to be calculated cumulatively, combining Menon’s time as a Managing Committee member and as an office-bearer. The order stated that the period served as secretary cannot be excluded from the nine-year period.

“The office-bearer is also a member of the Managing Committee or Apex Council. As such, it is apparent that his tenure has to be cumulated for holding the post of Managing Committee as ‘office bearer’ or as ‘Managing Committee member’, otherwise the entire purpose of the nine-year cap each for BCCI and State association would stand diluted,” the order said.

The KSCA said it had taken note of the BCCI Ombudsman’s order and was examining it in detail.

“Appropriate legal advice is being sought to evaluate all remedies and options available under law,” a KSCA statement read.

The KSCA also referred to an earlier order passed by its Ombudsman, Justice (Retd.) A.S. Bopanna, on February 5, 2026, which it said was binding on all members under the KSCA bye-laws. The association said the BCCI Ombudsman had taken a contrary view and that the legal implications of the two orders were being examined.