- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14605 WP No. 8114 of 2026 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: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT, 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, Digitally signed by CHAITHRA A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14605 WP No. 8114 of 2026 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 - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14605 WP No. 8114 of 2026 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, - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14605 WP No. 8114 of 2026 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. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14605 WP No. 8114 of 2026 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 - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14605 WP No. 8114 of 2026 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. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14605 WP No. 8114 of 2026 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