2005 (12) TMI 559 - SC - Indian Laws

Whether as the dispute involved in the writ petitions related to two State Governments, the writ petitions were not maintainable, in view of the constitutional bar under Article 131 of the Constitution of India?

Summary

Issues Involved:
1. Scope and ambit of Article 131 of the Constitution of India.
2. Legality of the notification issued by the State of Karnataka prohibiting online and internet lotteries.
3. Locus standi of the agents and distributors of the States of Sikkim and Meghalaya to file writ petitions.
4. Maintainability of the writ petitions filed by the agents and distributors.

Detailed Analysis:

1. Scope and Ambit of Article 131 of the Constitution of India:

The Supreme Court examined whether Article 131, which grants exclusive original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court in disputes between the Government of India and one or more States, or between two or more States, was applicable in this case. It was contended that the dispute involved two State Governments (Sikkim and Meghalaya vs. Karnataka) and thus should fall under Article 131. However, the Court clarified that Article 131 would not apply where private parties are involved alongside the States. The Court reiterated that the enlarged definition of 'State' under Article 12 does not extend to Article 131. Therefore, the writ petitions involving private parties (agents and distributors) were maintainable in the High Court.

2. Legality of the Notification Issued by the State of Karnataka:

The State of Karnataka issued a notification under Section 5 of the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998, prohibiting the sale of online and internet lottery tickets within the State. The States of Sikkim and Meghalaya, along with their agents, challenged this notification. The Supreme Court noted that Section 5 of the Act allows a State Government to prohibit the sale of tickets of a lottery organized by another State within its territory. The Court also observed that the Act contains penal provisions under Section 7(3) for violations. The legality of the notification was not directly adjudicated in this judgment, as the focus was on the maintainability of the writ petitions.

3. Locus Standi of the Agents and Distributors:

The agents and distributors of the States of Sikkim and Meghalaya argued that they had invested heavily in the online lottery business and would suffer significant financial losses due to the notification. The Supreme Court recognized that the agents had a substantial interest in the subject matter and were not merely acting on behalf of the States. The Court referred to various precedents to establish that an agent with an interest in the contract has the right to sue in their own name. The Court concluded that the agents had independent legal rights to challenge the notification and thus had the locus standi to file the writ petitions.

4. Maintainability of the Writ Petitions Filed by the Agents and Distributors:

The Supreme Court held that the writ petitions filed by the agents and distributors were maintainable. The Court emphasized that the agents had independent rights and were not mere proxies for the States of Sikkim and Meghalaya. The Court rejected the view of the Division Bench of the High Court that the agents could only enforce their rights through their principals. The Supreme Court stated that the agents had legal rights to carry on their business, and the impugned notification affected these rights, making the writ petitions maintainable.

Conclusion:

The Supreme Court set aside the judgment of the Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court, which had dismissed the writ petitions on the ground of maintainability. The Court held that the agents and distributors had the locus standi to challenge the notification and that the writ petitions were maintainable. The Court requested the High Court to expedite the hearing and disposal of the writ petitions, preferably within two months. The appellants were awarded costs throughout, with counsel fees assessed at Rs. 25,000 in each appeal.