Bombay High Court Rules Against BCCI in Kochi Tuskers Kerala Dispute

Court Upholds Arbitral Award for Kochi Tuskers

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has faced a significant defeat as the Bombay High Court has confirmed the arbitral decision mandating a payment of Rs 538 crore to the now-defunct Indian Premier League (IPL) team, Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

The court dismissed BCCI's challenge against the arbitral ruling, which has been a contentious issue for over ten years. Despite the ruling, BCCI representatives were not available for comments.

In 2011, the BCCI terminated the Kochi franchise after just one season, citing a breach of contract due to the team's failure to provide a necessary bank guarantee on time. This financial dispute arose from disagreements among the franchise owners.

The case went to arbitration, and in 2015, the BCCI was ordered to pay Rs 538 crore—comprising Rs 384 crore to Kochi Cricket Pvt Ltd (KCPL) and Rs 153 crore to Rendezvous Sport, the franchise's owners.

Dissatisfied with the arbitration outcome, the BCCI sought to overturn the tribunal's decision in court.

On Wednesday, the Bombay High Court upheld the arbitrator's ruling, stating, "The jurisdiction of this Court under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act is very limited. BCCI's attempt to challenge the merits of the dispute contradicts the grounds outlined in Section 34 of the Act. Dissatisfaction with the findings regarding evidence or merits cannot be a basis to contest the Award."

Originally purchased for Rs 1,550 crore in 2010, the Kochi franchise defaulted on its annual payments, leading to the BCCI's termination of their contract in 2011. Following the court's ruling, the BCCI is now required to pay Rs 550 crore.

Kochi Tuskers Kerala participated in the IPL for one season in 2012, finishing eighth out of ten teams.