Shillong, Nov 7: Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) Ombudsman Retired Justice B.D. Agarwal has upheld the suspension of Honorary Secretary Rayonald Kharkamni, ordering him to remain out of office for the remainder of the tenure of the association’s elected body over his handling of complaints raised by members of the Meghalaya Under-23 Women’s Cricket Team.
In his final order dated November 6, 2026, in Complaint Case No. 2 of 2026, the Ombudsman upheld the suspension imposed by MCA President James P.K. Sangma on June 27, 2026, and directed Kharkamni to remain suspended for the remaining period of the elected body’s tenure.
The disciplinary action stems from complaints of sexual harassment and misconduct raised by players of the Meghalaya Under-23 Women’s Cricket Team against the team’s head coach, Hemant Roy, and team manager, Sanjay Mandal. The players had also alleged that the then MCA office-bearers, including the Honorary Secretary, failed to act on their complaints.
Referring to the findings of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW), the Ombudsman took serious note of the alleged inaction by the MCA Secretary, particularly in relation to the grievances raised by the women cricketers.
In a strongly worded observation, the Ombudsman stated that “the laxity shown by the respondent with regard to the sexual harassment of women players cannot be dealt with any leniency”.
The order further noted that, according to the players’ complaints, the Honorary Secretary had failed to give due consideration to their grievances and had instead renewed the appointment of the coach against whom allegations had been raised.
“According to the complaint of the victims, the Hony. Secretary, MCA did not give any credence to their grievances; rather rewarded the Head Coach of sexual assault by giving him renewed appointment. This is really a shocking treatment to the women players,” the Ombudsman observed.
Emphasising the responsibility of the association towards the safety and dignity of its women players, the Ombudsman stated that the Secretary’s inaction was “totally against the objective and spirit of the law”.
The order further observed that “the dignity and safety of women players were given as go bye by the guardian of the players, viz the Hony. Secretary that cannot be tolerated to any extent”.
The Ombudsman also referred to the MSCW’s findings that complaints had been sent to the MCA’s official email addresses on December 2 and 3, 2025, but no prompt institutional action had followed.
The order noted that the MCA had also failed to constitute an Internal Committee as mandated under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
Quoting the MSCW’s findings, the Ombudsman observed that the failure of the then office-bearers to act on the complaints, coupled with the absence of an Internal Committee, amounted to “a serious dereliction of institutional duty and a failure to maintain a safe workplace for women players”.
The Ombudsman also referred to the Meghalaya High Court’s observations in connection with the suspension of the MCA Honorary Secretary. The High Court had considered the suspension a valid interim measure to protect the evidence and complainants while the disciplinary proceedings were referred to the Ombudsman.
The order noted that the MSCW had issued separate findings and recommendations concerning the allegations against the head coach and team manager, as well as the conduct of the MCA office-bearers. It stated that there was no need for the Ombudsman to conduct another parallel inquiry into the allegations already examined by the statutory commission.
Kharkamni, who was the respondent in the complaint filed by MCA President James P.K. Sangma, did not appear before the Ombudsman despite three notices issued on July 6, July 24 and August 10, 2026. The case consequently proceeded without his participation. The complainant’s counsel, Aanya Agarwal, presented oral arguments on August 25, with further proceedings taking place on November 5 following the Meghalaya High Court’s judgment on October 30.
The Ombudsman, after considering the facts and circumstances of the case, concluded that Kharkamni was not fit to continue as an office-bearer of the Meghalaya Cricket Association. The Ombudsman ordered that the Honorary Secretary “is hereby punished by way of putting him under suspension for the remaining tenure in the MCA as Honorary Secretary,” the order stated.
The Ombudsman further directed Kharkamni to immediately hand over all MCA properties, files, physical and digital records, access credentials and equipment in his possession or custody to the President.
