- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24182 WP No. 13818 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 13818 OF 2026 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: SRI. VEERABHADRESHWARA SPORTS AND RECREATIION ASSOCIATION NO.3185/1209, BHARATH PETROL BUNK NEAR, S.H.ROAD, MALEBENNUR - 577 530, HARIHARA TALUK, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT (REGISTERED UNDER KSR ACT 1960) REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT KUBERA NAIK, S/O PEERYA NAIK AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS, R/AT BHARATH PETROL BUNK NEAR, S.H.ROAD, MALEBENNUR - 577 530, HARIHARA TALUK, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT - 577 530. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. HANUMANTHAPPA HARAVI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, DR.B.R.AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001. Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24182 WP No. 13818 of 2026 2. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT, DAVANAGERE - 577 005. 3. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, RURAL, DAVANAGERE, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT - 577 005. 4. THE POLICE SUB-INSPECTOR, MALEBENNUR POLICE STATION, HARIHARA TALUK -577 530 DAVANAGERE DISTRICT. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K.P. YOGANNA, AGA) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS NO.1 TO 4 NOT TO OBSTRUCT THE SPORTS AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES IN THE ASSOCIATION OF THE PETITIONER SRI VEERABHADRESHWARA SPORTS AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION REGISTERED UNDER THE KARNATAKA SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT 1960 VIDE DATED 01-04-2026, ANNEXURE-A. DATED 04.04.2026, BEARING REGISTRATION NO.DRDV/SOR/4/2026-2027 WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT AND ETC., 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:24182 WP No. 13818 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 respondent Nos.1 to 4, 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 and outdoor recreational games such as Carom, Chess, Rummy, Kabaddi, Co-co, Relay, Tennis, Football and Cricket conducted in the name and style of Sri Veerabhadreshwara Sports and Recreation 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, 1860 having been registered before the Registrar of Societies vide Registration No. DRDV/SOR/4/2026-2027 dated 01.04.2026. The petitioner asserts that the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24182 WP No. 13818 of 2026 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.4 – 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. 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. In the light of the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:24182 WP No. 13818 of 2026 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:24182 WP No. 13818 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:24182 WP No. 13818 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 HDK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 23