HC directs registration of Arunachal lottery promoters

Kochi, Apr 11 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today directed the state tax authorities to grant registration to Balaji Agencies, the promoters of Arunachal Pradesh state lotteries and collect taxes on the sale of lotteries from them.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice K S Radhakrishanan and Justice M N Krishanan passed the order while setting aside the order of a single judge on an appeal filed by T John Rose of Balaji Agencies.

The bench said the tax authorities had not properly appreciated the scope of section 2(1) of the Kerala Tax on Paper Lotteries Act and other materials while passing the order against the appellant.

It said the state of Arunachal Pradesh was conducting its lotteries in accordance with section 4 of the Lotteries Regulation Act, 1998.

''The State of Arunachal Pradesh has recognised the petitioner as a promoter for selling its lottery tickets in the state of Kerala, which in our view is a complete answer to the doubt expressed by the tax authorities'', the bench observed.

However, the bench said if the petitioner was selling the lottery tickets in violation of section 4 of the Lotteries Regulation Act, it was up to the Centre to take appropriate action.

UNI