ORAL ORDER

Learned HCGP is directed to take notice for respondent.

2. The gist of the prosecution’s allegation is that the petitioners were found engaged in playing the game of andar-bahar in the forest area of Raminakoppa Village, pursuant to which a criminal case came to be registered. The Investigating Officer, being of the view that the petitioners had committed an offence, proceeded to registered a crime in Crime No.139/2025.

3. The issue as to whether a citizen found playing a game of chance, namely andar-bahar, constitutes an offence has already been considered and decided by a Co-ordinate Bench in W.P. No.2227/2024. It is apposite for this Court to reproduce paragraph 3 of the said judgment, which in turn refers to an earlier judgment rendered in Crl.P. No.100877/2014, and reads as follows:

"The learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the issue in the case at hand stands covered by the judgment rendered by the co-ordinate bench