- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16058 WP No. 21873 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 21873 OF 2025 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: THE KARNATAKA FAMILIES ASSOCIATION DOOR NO 96, 29TH MAIN ROAD, B T M LAYOUT, 2ND STAGE, NEXT TO ROYAL ENFIELD SHOW ROOM BENGALURU - 560076 REGISTERED UNDER KARNATAKA SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT 1960, PRESENTLY OPERATING AT ANNAPURNA KALYANA MANTAPA DODDALASANDRA VILLAGE, NEAR NH HIGHWAY SHIRA TALUK TUMKUR DISTRICT - 572137 REP BY ITS PRESIDENT SRI. NAGARAJU S, AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, R/A NO.50, NEHRU COLONY, HOLALKERE TOWN 577 526, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT, …PETITIONER (BY SRI. KUMARA K G., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOME, Digitally signed by CHAITHRA A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16058 WP No. 21873 of 2025 VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, BENGALURU CENTRAL RANGE-560001 3. SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, TUMKURU- 572101 4. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTEND OF POLICE, SHIRA TUMKURU DISTRICT 572137 5. ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE (L AND O) BENGALURU- 560001 6. THE CIRCLE INSPECTOR, SHIRA RURAL POLCIE STATION, 572137 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. VIKAS ROJIPURA, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A) ISSUE WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS NOT INSIST THE PETITIONER-ASSOCIATION TO OBTAIN THE LICENSE TO THE CARRY ON THE LAWFUL ACTIVITIES IN THE PREMISES OF THE PETITIONERS CLUB EITHER UNDER THE POLICE ACT OR UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE LICENSING AND CONTROLLING OF PLACE OF PUBLIC AMUSEMENT ORDER AND NOT TO INTERFERE IN CARRYING OUT LAWFUL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS, CHESS, SNOOKER, CAROM, ELECTRONIC COIN GAMES, PENTASTIC-3, THREE DIES BOWLING, (IS NEWLY KNOWN AS SKILLED ELECTRONIC GAME) POKER, WALL GAME, SIX COLOUR GAMES, RUMMY ETC., IN THE PREMISES OF THE PETITIONER- ASSOCIATION. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16058 WP No. 21873 of 2025 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER The petitioner – a Registered Recreation Association – has approached this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking a writ of mandamus against respondents, restraining 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 recreational games such as Chess, Snooker, Carom, Electronic Coin Games, Pentastic-3, three dies bowling(is newly known as skilled electronic game), Poker, Wall Game, six colour games, Rummy etc. conducted in the name and style of The Karnataka Families Association, and that no unlawful or prohibited activities are being conducted in the premises. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16058 WP No. 21873 of 2025 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, 1860 having been registered before the Registrar of Societies vide Registration No. AMR No.36/23-24 dated 04.10.2023. 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 respondent No.3 – the jurisdictional Police Officer is repeatedly visiting the premises of the Association without any justifiable cause and is 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 Association. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner places reliance on the judgment of this Court in W.P. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16058 WP No. 21873 of 2025 No.41253/2019, 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 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 - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16058 WP No. 21873 of 2025 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. 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. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16058 WP No. 21873 of 2025 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 found to have indulged in any unlawful or immoral activities. Ordered accordingly. SD/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE ALB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 44