- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20351 WP No. 11139 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 15TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 11139 OF 2026 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: KRISHNARAJA SPORTS CLUB (R) REG. NO.40/93-94, 580/3 (CH 44/3 AND 44/3A), SHESHADRI IYER ROAD, (V.V.ROAD). LAKSHMIPURAM, MYSURU - 570 004. REPRESENTED BY IT'S SECRETARY, B.A. MANJUNATH, S/O B.C.ANNAIAH, AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, (THE PETITIONER SPORTS CLUB IS REGISTERED UNDER SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT.,) …PETITIONER (BY SRI. P. NATARAJU, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY IT'S SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HOME, VIDHANASOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MYSURU CITY, MYSURU - 570 001. 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, CITY CRIME BRANCH, Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20351 WP No. 11139 of 2026 MYSURU - 570 001. 4. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, LAKSHMIPURAM POLICE STATION, MYSURU - 570 004. 5. INSPECTOR OF POLICE, LAKSHMIPURAM POLICE STATION, MYSURU - 570 004. 6. INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CITY CRIME BRANCH, LASHKAR MOHALLA, MYSURU - 570 003. 7. THE SUB-INSPECTOR OF POLICE, LAKSHMIPURAM POLICE STATION, MYSURU - 570 004. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. VIKAS ROJIPURA, AGA) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS, DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS NOT TO INSIST THE PETITIONER TO OBTAIN LICENCE UNDER KARNATAKA POLICE ACT., OR UNDER LICENSING AND CONTROLLING OF PLACES OF PUBLIC AMUSEMENT FOR PLAYING OF SKILL GAMES LIKE CHESS, VIDEO GAMES, SNOOKER, CAROM, DART GAME, POKER, RUMMY ETC., IN THE PREMISES OF THE PETITIONER CLUB AND ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20351 WP No. 11139 of 2026 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 respondent Nos.2 to 7, 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 painting competition, running the library, gymnasium and playing carom, shuttle cock, chess, rummy and jackpot etc., conducted in the name and style of Krishnaraja Sports Club (R) (old name Sea Breeze Recreation Club), 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:20351 WP No. 11139 of 2026 1860 having been registered before the Registrar of Societies vide Registration No. 40/93-94, 580/3 (ch 44/3 and 44/3A) dated 12.08.2015. 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 the respondents – the jurisdictional Police Officers are 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 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20351 WP No. 11139 of 2026 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 upon by the police, during the raid(s) and surveillance etc. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20351 WP No. 11139 of 2026 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. e. The jurisdictional police shall have liberty to visit premises periodically and/or on receipt of any information about any - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20351 WP No. 11139 of 2026 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 HDK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 11