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Karnataka High Court
Shri Lakshmi Sports And Cultural ... vs The State Of Karnataka on 11 March, 2026
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WP No. 8114 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 11TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM
WRIT PETITION NO. 8114 OF 2026 (GM-POLICE)
BETWEEN:
SHRI LAKSHMI SPORTS AND CULTURAL MEMBERS
ASSOCIATION
NO. 186/4, SIRUR PARK ROAD,
SHESHADRIPURAM,
BANGALORE - 560020.
REP. BY ITS SECRETARY,
SRI. D.G. SRINIVAS
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. RAJU S., ADVOCATE)
AND:
Digitally signed by
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
CHAITHRA A REP. BY ITS SECRETARY,
Location: HIGH
COURT OF HOME DEPARTMENT,
KARNATAKA
VIDHANA SOUDHA,
BANGALORE-560 001
2. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
INFANTRY ROAD,
BANGALORE-560 001
3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
CENTRAL DIVISION,
BANGALORE.
4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
CITY CRIME BRANCH,
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WP No. 8114 of 2026
HC-KAR
ROYAN CIRCLE,
N.T.PET OR SHANTHINAGAR,
BANGALORE-01.
5. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE,
SHESHADRIPURAM SUB DIVISION,
BANGALORE-560020.
6. THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE,
SHESHADRIPURAM POLICE STATION,
SHESHADRIPURAM,
BANGALORE-560020.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. K.P. YOGANNA, AGA)
THIS WRIT PETITION FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND
227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT
THE RESPONDENTS NOT TO INSIST UPON THE PETITIONER TO
OBTAIN LICENSE FOR THE PLAY OF GAMES SUCH AS (SKILL)
CHESS, CAROM, SNOOKER, GYM, READING ROOM (LIBRARY),
FANTASTIC-3, (PLAYED WITH 3 DICE), DICE BALL, DART
GAMES, ELECTRONICS GAMES, TABLE TENNIS, CARDS
(RUMMY) VIDEO GAME, POKER AND OTHER INDOOR AND
OUTDOOR GAMES FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS MEMBERS AND
ALSO SOCIAL SERVICE AND ETC., BEING RUN UNDER THE
NAME AND STYLE OF SHRI LAKSHMI SPORTS AND CULTURAL
MEMBERS ASSOCIATION, NO.186/4, SIRUR PARK ROAD,
SHESHADRIPURAM, BANGALORE 560020, EITHER UNDER THE
KARNATAKA POLICE ACT UNDER THE LICENSING AND
CONTROLLING OF THE PLACE OF PUBLIC AMUSEMENT ORDER,
BANGALORE CITY.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM
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WP No. 8114 of 2026
HC-KAR
ORAL ORDER
The petitioner - a Registered Recreation Association
- has approached this Court under Article 226 of the
Constitution seeking a writ of mandamus against the
respondents not to insist petitioner to obtain license for
the play of games and restrain them from interfering with
the lawful activities carried on by the Association. It is
specifically contended that the activities of the petitioner-
Association are confined to indoor and outdoor recreational
games such as Chess, Carom, Snooker, Gym, Reading
Room (Library), Fantastic-3, Dice Ball, Dart games,
Electronics games, Table Tennis, Cards (Rummy), Video
Games, Poker and other indoor and outdoor games
conducted by the association, and that no unlawful or
prohibited activities are being conducted in the premises.
2. It is the case of the petitioner that the
Association is a duly registered Society under the
provisions of the Karnataka Societies Registration Act,
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1969. The petitioner asserts that the Association 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/Police are insisting the petitioner to obtain
license under the Licensing and Control of Places of Public
Amusement order 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 Association but has also
resulted in infringement of fundamental rights.
4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner
places reliance on the judgment of this Court in W.P.
No.21010/2023, 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.
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5. 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
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
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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.
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.
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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
found to have indulged in any unlawful or
immoral activities.
Ordered accordingly.
Sd/-
(SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM)
JUDGE
CA
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 55
