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Karnataka High Court
L H Prince Club vs The State Of Karnataka on 26 March, 2026
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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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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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found to have indulged in any unlawful or
immoral activities.
Ordered accordingly.
Sd/-
(SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM)
JUDGE
ALB
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 29
