IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH ***

CWP-9309-2026 Date of Decision: 27.03.2026 Lovish Chugh .... Petitioner Versus State of Punjab and another .... Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASGURPREET SINGH PURI Present: Mr. Roopak Bansal, Advocate, for the petitioner.

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JASGURPREET SINGH PURI , J . (ORAL)

1. The present writ petition has been filed under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ in the nature of Mandamus directing the respondents to decide the representation dated 21.02.2026 (Annexure P-3) and to grant the necessary licence/permit to the petitioner for establishing a Poker Gaming Arena.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner has moved a representation to the Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab vide Annexure P-3 dated 21.02.2026 (although wrongly stated as 21.02.2025 but the same was given on 21.02.2026, which is clear from the receipt of speed post attached along with the aforesaid representation) and the relief claimed from the Chief Secretary as so stated in the prayer clause is with regard to seeking clarification on the status of Poker Gaming Arena under the Public Gambling Act, 1867 and various other reliefs claimed but no action was taken by the Chief Secretary. Therefore, the present petition has been filed seeking directions to decide the representation filed by the petitioner.

3. I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner.

4. The petitioner filed a representation before the Chief Secretary vide Annexure P-3. On the aforesaid representation, the date mentioned is 21.02.2025, however, on the next page i.e. Page No.21 of the paper-book, the original receipt of the speed post from the Post Office has also been attached, which is dated 21.02.2026. In this way, the petitioner sent the aforesaid representation to the Chief Secretary on 21.02.2026 by registered post.

5. The petitioner filed the present writ petition on 19.03.2026, which is less than one month from the date of sending the aforesaid representation by registered post.

6. The subject matter of the representation appears to be a policy decision, which is to be taken, if at all, by the Chief Secretary, which involves the legal status of the game of Poker under the Public Gambling Act, 1867. It was not expected from the petitioner to have invoked the extra- ordinary jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India after filing a representation and then filing the present writ petition before this Court within a period of less than one month. Such kind of filing of a writ petition constitutes a pure abuse of process of law and amounts to wastage of precious time of the Court. Even if the aforesaid representation is filed before the Chief Secretary on 21.02.2026, it may not yet have reached the appropriate authority. However, in a hurried manner and at the drop of a hat, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition, which amounts to nothing but sheer wastage of time of this Court. The petitioner ought to have waited for a reasonable period of time before filing the present petition, in which, he seeks to invoke the extraordinary jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

7. The present petition is, therefore, not only premature and amounts to wastage of time of this Court by filing it at this stage but also it constitutes an abuse of the process of law. Consequently, the present petition is dismissed with (cid:0) 5,000/- (Rupees Five Thousand only) as costs. The petitioner is hereby directed to deposit the aforesaid costs to the High Court Legal Services Committee within a period of 3 months from today and thereafter, furnish a receipt of the same in the Registry of the Court.

8. In case, the receipt is not furnished before the Registry, then the Registry shall put up this case for compliance purposes after 3 months and thereafter, further necessary action will be considered in accordance with law including recovery