Karnataka High Court
L H Prince Club vs The State Of Karnataka on 26 March, 2026
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NC: 2026:KHC:17368
WP No. 9495 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 26TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM
WRIT PETITION NO. 9495 OF 2026 (GM-POLICE)
BETWEEN:
L.H.PRINCE CLUB,
LINGADEERANAHALLI PRINCE CLUB
NO.459, 1ST BLOCK, 'D' GROUP LAYOUT,
ANDRAHALLI MAIN ROAD,
LINGADEERANAHALLI, VISHWANEEDAM POST,
YESHWANTHAPURA, HEROHALLI,
BENGALURU-560091,
REPT. BY ITS SECRETARY
SRI. SRINIVASAMURTHY
AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. SARAVANA S., ADVOCATE)
AND:
Digitally
signed by 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
CHAITHRA A REPT.BY IT'S SECRETARY,
Location: HOME DEPARTMENT,
HIGH VIDHANA SOUDHA,
COURT OF BENGALURU-560 001.
KARNATAKA
2. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
BENGALURU CITY,
NO.1, INFANTRY ROAD,
BENGALURU-560001.
3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
BENGALURU DIVISION (WEST),
BENGALURU - 560 001.
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NC: 2026:KHC:17368
WP No. 9495 of 2026
HC-KAR
4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
BENGALURU DIVISION (WEST),
BENGALURU - 560 001.
5. THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE
BYADARAHALLI POLICE STATION
BENGALURU-560091.
6. CENTRAL CRIME BRANCH
ROYAN CIRCLE,
MYSORE ROAD,
BENGALURU-560 012.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. VIKAS ROJIPURA, AGA)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO A) DIRECTING THE
RESPONDENTS NOT THE PETITIONER TO OBTAIN THE LICENSE
TO CARRY IN LAWFUL ACTIVITIES PERTAINING TO THE
PETITIONER'S RECREATION CLUB EITHER UNDER THE
LICENCING AND CONTROLLING OF THE PLACES OF PUBLIC
ENTERTAINMENT AMUSEMENT ACT OR UNDER KARNATAKA
POLICE ACT AND NOT TO INTERFERE IN THE PLAY OF SKILL
DART GAMES LIKE, CHESS, SNOOKER, RUMMY
(NONGAMBLING) JACKPOT, CORDS, CAROM, SKILL-BASED
GAMES AND ETC.
THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM
ORAL ORDER
The petitioner - a Registered Recreation club - has approached this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking a writ of mandamus against -3- NC: 2026:KHC:17368 WP No. 9495 of 2026 HC-KAR respondents, restraining them from interfering with the lawful activities carried on by the petitioner/club. It is specifically contended that the activities of the petitioner- club are confined to indoor recreational games such as Carom, Chess, Snooker, Rummy(nongambling), jackpot, cords, skill-based games etc. conducted in the name and style of L.H. Prince Club, and that no unlawful or prohibited activities are being conducted in the premises.
2. It is the case of the petitioner that the petitioner/club is a duly registered under the provisions of the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960 having been registered before the Registrar of Societies vide Registration No. DRB4/SOR/33/2025-2026 dated 16.05.2025. The petitioner asserts that the petitioner/club has been established exclusively for recreational purposes and is functioning strictly in accordance with its bye-laws.
3. The grievance projected in the writ petition is that respondents are repeatedly visiting the premises of the -4- NC: 2026:KHC:17368 WP No. 9495 of 2026 HC-KAR petitioner/club without any justifiable cause and are interfering with the peaceful conduct of indoor recreational activities. It is alleged that such interference has not only disrupted the functioning of the Club but has also resulted in intimidation and threats to discontinue the activities of the Club.
4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner places reliance on the judgment of this Court in W.P. No.22854/2022, wherein, under similar circumstances, appropriate directions were issued by referring to the authoritative pronouncement of the Division Bench of this Court in D.V.R Recreation Club Vs State of Karnataka rendered in W.A.No.20090/2015. In the light of the principles laid down by the Hon'ble Division Bench and the consistent view taken by this Court in subsequent matters, the present writ petition is disposed of with the following directions:
a. The petitioner shall install within a period of six weeks, CC TV cameras, at all the -5- NC: 2026:KHC:17368 WP No. 9495 of 2026 HC-KAR places of access to its members and also at all the places, wherein game/s is/are played by the members. The CC TV footage of at least prior 15 days' period shall be made available by the petitioner, to the police, as and when called upon to do so.
b. The petitioner shall issue identity card(s) to all its member(s), which shall be produced by the member(s), when called upon by the police, during the raid(s) and surveillance etc. c. The petitioner shall not permit any activity by any of its member(s), by indulging in acts of amusement, falling within the definition of Sections.2(14) & 2(15) of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963 and shall not permit any game(s) of chance as per Explanation (II) of Sub-section (7) of Section 2 of Karnataka Police Act, 1963. The member(s) shall not be allowed to play any kind of game(s) with stakes or make any profit or gain out of the game(s) played, except games of skills.-6-
NC: 2026:KHC:17368 WP No. 9495 of 2026 HC-KAR d. The petitioner shall put proper mechanism in place and shall ensure that no game(s) is played in any unlawful manner by the member(s). If the police find that any of the game/s played is/are contrary to any law and in violation of the settled practice, it is open for them to take action against petitioner and the offenders, in accordance with law.
e. The jurisdictional police shall have liberty to visit premises periodically and/or on receipt of any information about any unlawful activity being carried on in the petitioner's premises.
f. The respondents are directed not to interfere with the lawful recreational activities carried on by the members of the petitioner - Club/Association.
g. It is made clear that this order would not come in the way of the jurisdictional police invoking the provisions of the Act and taking action in accordance with law, if the member(s) of the petitioner are -7- NC: 2026:KHC:17368 WP No. 9495 of 2026 HC-KAR found to have indulged in any unlawful or immoral activities.
Ordered accordingly.
Sd/-
(SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE ALB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 29