K’taka HC stays single bench order allowing racing, betting at BTC

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: In a sudden U-turn, a divisional bench of the Karnataka High Court has now prohibited racing and betting on and off the course of the Bangalore Turf Club on Saturday.

On June 18, a single bench led by SR Krishna Kumar had ordered the state government to allow BTC to conduct races and betting as usual, making the government’s refusal of a licence to bet and conduct races on June 6 null.

However, the government filed an appeal to a divisional bench, led by Chief Justice NV Anjaria and KV Aravind. The court had acknowledged the reason behind the government’s refusal to grant the licence.

“The order of single-judge is hereby suspended and stayed. The respondent-original petitioner club is prohibited from conducting on-course and off-course horse racing and betting even during the pendency of the petition (challenging refusal to grant licence), subject to the outcome of the petition," the court said.

The government alleged that the BTC was fully responsible for the illegal betting activities, and further claimed that it faced a loss of Rs. 296 crore in tax evasion.

However, the BTC, along with the Karnataka Race Horse Owners’ Association, Karnataka Trainer’s Association, punters and Jockey Association of India contested that the racing activities had been carried out for more than a century, and claimed that around 20,000 people depend on it.

The divisional bench questioned the legal standing of the petitioners for further proceedings, besides the BTC.