- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16372 WP No. 5473 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 5473 OF 2026 (GM-POLICE) BETWEEN: 1. MALENADU MANORANJANA SANGHA YAREHALLI, PALYA HOBLI KANATHURU POST, ALUR TALUK HASSAN DISTRICT-573201 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY SRI. K.V. MAHESH S/O LATE VEERAPPA SHETTY AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. BASAVARAJU .U.E, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS UNDER SECRETARY HOME DEPARTMENT VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560 001. 2. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE HASSAN, HASSAN DISTRICT-573 201. 3. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE SAKALESHPURA HASSAN DISTRICT- 573 213. 4. THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE ALUR CIRCLE, HASSAN DISTRICT- 573 213. Digitally signed by CHAITHRA A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16372 WP No. 5473 of 2026 5. THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE ALUR POLICE STATION HASSAN DISTRICT- 573 201. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K.P.YOGANNA, AGA) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT POLICE NOT TO INTERFERE WITH RECREATION ACTIVITIES OF THE PETITIONER'S CLUB AND RAISE OBJECTIONS AND INSIST TO OBTAIN THE PERMISSION/LICENSE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF LICENSING AND CONTROLLING OF PLACES OF THE PUBLIC AMUSEMENT ORDER AND KARNATAKA POLICE ACT TO PLAY INDOOR GAMES SUCH AS RUMMY (CARD GAME), CHESS, SIX COLORS PIN GAMES (DART), POKER, AND VARIOUS OTHER GAMES LIKE CAROM, BILLIARDS, SNOOKER, TABLE TENNIS AND OTHER OUTDOOR GAMES 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 ORAL ORDER The petitioner – a Registered Recreation Club has approached this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution seeking a writ of mandamus against respondents/police, restraining them from interfering with the lawful activities carried on by the Club. It is specifically contended that the activities of the petitioner-Club are - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16372 WP No. 5473 of 2026 confined to indoor recreational games such as Rummy(Card Game), Chess, Six Colours Pin Games(DART), Poker and various other games like Carom, Billiards, Snooker, table tennis and other outdoor games conducted in the name and style of Malenadu Manoranjana Sangha, and that no unlawful or prohibited activities are being conducted in the premises. 2. It is the case of the petitioner that the Society is a duly registered Society under the provisions of the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960 having been registered before the Registrar of Societies vide Registration No. DRHA/SOR/142/2018-2019 dated 1.08.2018. The petitioner asserts that the society 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 repeatedly visiting the premises of the Society without any justifiable cause and is interfering - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16372 WP No. 5473 of 2026 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.25790/2025 decided on 02.12.2025, 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 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16372 WP No. 5473 of 2026 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 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. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16372 WP No. 5473 of 2026 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. 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 - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16372 WP No. 5473 of 2026 found to have indulged in any unlawful or immoral activities. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE ALB List No.: 2 Sl No.: 34