Maruthi Sports and Cultural Trust (R) v. the State of Karnataka
Case brief
What is this about?
Maruthi Sports and Cultural Trust (R), Tumkur recreation club chess rummy carom; police interference and licence insistence; writ petition under Articles 226/227 disposed with directions; D.V.R Recreation Club Vs State of Karnataka W.A.No.20090/2015 relied on; Karnataka Police Act 1963 Sections 2(14), 2(15), Section 2(7) Explanation (II); games of chance vs games of skill; CCTV installation six weeks and 15 days footage; member identity cards; police inspection liberty; non-interference with lawful recreational activities; Sachin Shankar Magadum, J.; HC-KAR 2026.
What did the court decide?
Writ petition disposed of with directions (a)-(g): petitioner to install CCTV at access/game areas within six weeks and make prior 15 days' footage available to police on demand; issue member identity cards producible during raids/surveillance; refrain from permitting acts of amusement under Sections 2(14) & 2(15) and games of chance under Explanation (II) of Section 2(7) of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, and stakes/profit except games of skill; maintain a mechanism against unlawful play with liberty to police to act against offenders; police liberty to visit premises periodically or on information; respondents directed not to interfere with lawful recreational activities, without prejudice to police action if unlawful or immoral activity is found.