- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:10213 WP No. 105982 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 13TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 105982 OF 2024 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: DHARMA FRIENDS CLUB TERDAL TQ.RABAKAVI-BANAHATTI DIST. BAGALKOT-587103 REP. BY ITS SECRETARY SHIVAPPA S/O CHANDRAPPA DESAI AGE. 36 YEARS, OCC. WAVING AND SOCIAL SERVICE R/O. BANAHATTI TQ. RABAKAVI-BANAHATTI DIST. BAGALKOT-587103 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAGHAVENDRA A PUROHIT,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS SECRETARY DEPT. OF HOME, VIDHANSOUDHA B.R.AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU-560001 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER BAGALKOT TQ.DIST. BAGALKOT-587103 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE BAGALKOT TQ.DIST. BAGALKOT-587103 4. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE Digitally signed by GIRIJA A. BYAHATTI Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench, Dharwad - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:10213 WP No. 105982 of 2024 JAMAKHANDI TQ.JAMAKHANDI DIST. BAGALKOT-587103 5. THE POLICE INSPECTOR, TERDAL TQ. RABAKAVI-BANAHATTI DIST. BAGALKOT-587103 6. THE CIRCLE POLICE INSPECTOR, BANAHATTI TQ. RABAKAVI-BANAHATTI DIST. BAGALKOT-587103 7. THE REGISTRAR OF DISTRICT SOCIETIES AND DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES BAGALKOT TQ. DIST. BAGALKOT-587103 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. SHARAD V. MAGADUM., AGA FOR R1 TO R7) THIS WRIT PETITION FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS NO. 3 TO 6 NOT TO INSIST UPON THE PETITIONER TO OBTAIN LICENSE FOR PLAYING SKILL GAMES INDOOR GAMES LIKE CHESS, CAROM, RUMMY, TABLE TENNIS, LONG TENNIS BILLIARDS, BADMINTON AND OUTDOOR GAMES SUCH AS TENNIS TENNIQUITE, ATHLETICS, CRICKET AND ETC., THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:10213 WP No. 105982 of 2024 ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) 1. Learned AGA accepts notice for respondents No.1 to 4. 2. The Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. Issue a writ in nature of mandamus directing the Respondents 3 to 6 not to insist upon the petitioner to obtain license for playing skill games, indoor games like chess, carom, rummy, Table Tennis, Long Tennis, Billiards, Badminton and outdoor games such as Tennis, Tenniquite, Athletics, Cricket etc. b. Issue a direction directing the respondents No. 3 to 6 not to interfere with day to day function and activities of the petitioner in the interest of justice and equity. c. To issue any other order, direction as deems fit in the circumstances of the case 3. Both the counsels submit that, the above matter is covered by the order dated 22.02.2016 passed in W.P.No. 101799/2016 (GM-Police) in Srimanth Ramchandrarao Appasaheb Club, Jamakhandi Vs. State of Karnataka. 4. In view of the aforesaid submissions and in the light of the decision in WP.No.101799/2016 (GM-Police) - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:10213 WP No. 105982 of 2024 and with a view to maintain parity, writ petition is disposed of with following directions: i. The petitioner shall install CCTV cameras at the places of access to its members and also at all the places, wherein game(s) is/are played by the members within a period of six weeks. The CCTV footages of at least prior 15 days' period shall be made available by the petitioner to the jurisdictional police, as and when called upon to do so. ii. 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 concerned police, during the raid(s), surveillance, etc. iii. The petitioner shall not allow any non- member(s) or the guest(s) of the member(s), to make use of its premises for the purpose of playing any kind of game(s) or recreational activities. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:10213 WP No. 105982 of 2024 iv. 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 Act 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. v. 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 jurisdictional police find the game(s) played is/are contrary to any law and in violation of the settled practice, it is open to them to taken action against the petitioner and the offenders, in accordance with law. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:10213 WP No. 105982 of 2024 vi. 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. vii. The respondents are directed not to interfere with the lawful recreational activities carried or by the members of the petitioner's- Club/Association. viii. 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 is/are found to have indulged in any unlawful or immoral activities. No order as to costs. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE LN/ List No.: 3 Sl No.: 17