- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1610 WP No. 100826 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO. 100826 OF 2026 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: S & P RECREATION CLUB, NO.72, PUROHIT NAGAR, DHARWAD, TQ: & DIST: DHARWAD-580002. REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, SHRI PRAKASH S/O. RAMAPPA ARATTI, OCC: BUSINESS, AGE: 37 YEARS, R/O. #72, MANJUNATH NILAYA, PUROHIT NAGAR, DHARWAD, TQ: & DIST: DHARWAD-580002. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. NAGARAJ J. APPANNANAVAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT, VIDHAN SOUDHA, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VIDHI, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, HUBBALLI-DHARWAD NAVANAGAR, TQ: & DIST: DHARWAD-580025. 3. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, HUBBALLI-DHARWAD NAVANAGAR, TQ: & DIST: DHARWAD-580025. Digitally signed by YASHAVANT NARAYANKAR Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1610 WP No. 100826 of 2026 4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, DHARWAD, TQ: & DIST: DHARWAD-580001. 5. THE CIRCLE POLICE INSPECTOR, VIDYAGIRI POLICE STATION,, DHARWAD, TQ: & DIST: DHARWAD-580004. 6. THE POLICE SUB-INSPECTOR, VIDYAGIRI POLICE STATION, DHARWAD, TQ: & DIST: DHARWAD-580004. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. T. HANUMAREDDY, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DECLARE THAT, THE PETITIONER ASSOCIATION IS NOT REQUIRED TO OBTAIN ANY LICENSE/PERMISSION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF KARNATAKA POLICE ACT OR LICENSE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE LICENSING AND CONTROLLING OF PLACES OF THE PUBLIC AMUSEMENT ORDER TO PLAY INDOOR GAMES SUCH AS RUMMY, CHESS, CAROM, BILLIARDS/SNOOKER, VIDEO GAMES, ELECTRONIC AMUSEMENT GAMES, DICE GAMES SKILLED GAMES AND OTHER INDOOR AND OUTDOOR GAMES FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL ITS MEMBERS; ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER DIRECTION/ORDERS TO THE RESPONDENT NO.2 TO 6 DIRECTING NOT TO INSIST UPON THE PETITIONER ASSOCIATION TO OBTAIN A LICENSE FOR PLAYING SKILL GAMES LIKE CHESS, DART GAMES, RUMMY AND CAROM, VIDEO GAMES, ELECTRONIC AMUSEMENT GAMES, DICE GAMES EITHER UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF KARNATAKA POLICE ACT-1960 OR UNDER THE LICENSING AND CONTROLLING OF PLACE OF PUBLIC AMUSEMENT ORDER OR PREVENT THE PETITIONER ASSOCIATION TO CONDUCT ITS LEGAL ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED ON BY THE MEMBERS OF THE PETITIONER ASSOCIATION SITUATED AT NO.72, PUROHIT NAGAR DHARWAD TQ AND DIST: DHARWAD-580002 AND ETC. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1610 WP No. 100826 of 2026 ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following prayers: “Wherefore, the petitioner prays that this Hon’ble Court be pleased to: a) To declare that, the Petitioner Association is not required to obtain any license/permission under the provisions of Karnataka Police Act or license under the provisions of the Licensing and Controlling of Places of the Public Amusement Order to Play Indoor Games such as Rummy, Chess, Carom, Billiards/Snooker, video games, electronic amusement games, dice games skilled games and other indoor and outdoor games for the benefit of all its members; b) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other direction/orders to the Respondent No.2 to 6 directing not to insist upon the Petitioner Association to obtain a license for playing skill games like chess, dart games, rummy and carom, video games, electronic amusement games, dice games either under the provisions of Karnataka Police Act-1960 or under the Licensing and Controlling of Place of Public Amusement Order or prevent the Petitioner Association to conduct its legal activities to be carried on by the members of the Petitioner Association situated at No.72, Purohit Nagar, Dharwad Tq and Dist: Dharwad- 580002. c) Pass such other order as this Hon’ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, including costs, in the interest of justice and equity.” 2. It is the case of the petitioner/association that the petitioner/association is registered under the Karnataka Societies - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1610 WP No. 100826 of 2026 Registration Act and conducting games like cricket, kabadi, karate, chess, carom, and also conducting indoor and outdoor skill games and other activities. It is submitted the authorities are insisting the petitioner/association to take license under the Karnataka Police Act. 3. In the light of the judgment of this Court in Rama Recreation Association v. Commissioner of Police1, an association cannot be compelled to obtain a license under the Police Act. It is the grievance of the petitioner/association that while the petitioner/association is conducting regular activities, the respondents 2 and 6 are interfering and insisting upon the petitioner/association for obtaining license. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner/ association has brought to the notice of the Court the orders passed by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in this regard. It is the grievance of the petitioner/association that the respondents, in spite of several orders passed by this Court, are regularly interfering. 1 ILR 1993 KAR 3357 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1610 WP No. 100826 of 2026 5. The learned AGA, representing respondents 1 to 6, submits that as per his instructions the respondents are not interfering. It is submitted that as per the guidelines issued by this Court, in W.P.No.101879/2024, the police have liberty to inspect the premises to find out whether any illegal activities are taking place 6. Having heard the learned counsels on either side, perused the material on record. 7. According to the petitioner/association, there is interference and according to the respondents, there is no interference. As rightly submitted by the learned AGA, as per the order of this Court in W.P.No.101879/2024, the police have every authority to inspect the premises. In that view of the matter, this Court is passing the following: ORDER (i) The writ petition is allowed by directing the respondents not to interfere with the day-to- day activities of the petitioner/association without following due process of law. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1610 WP No. 100826 of 2026 (ii) This order will not preclude the respondents from conducting any inspection in accordance with law. (iii) All I.As., in this writ petition stand closed. Sd/- JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI YAN Ct-mck List No.: 1 Sl No.: 40