Kerala 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 receive tax on the sale of lotteries from them.

The court passed the order while setting aside the order of a single judge on an appeal filed by T John Rose of Balaji Agencies.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice K S Radhakrishanan and Justice M N Krishanan observed that the tax authorities had not properly appreciated the scope of section 2(1) of the Kerala Tax on Paper Lotteries Act and other material while passing the order against the appellant.

It further said that 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 recognized 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 court opined.

However, the court said that if the petitioner was selling the lottery tickets in violation of section 4 of the Lotteries Regulation Act, it was open to the central government to take appropriate action.

UNI