The Gauhati High Court has recently closed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the sale of paper lotteries in digital mode.
The petitioner, Sh. Raju Pun, alleged that this practice violated the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 2008, and Ministry of Home Affairs directives.
The bench of Justice Devashis Baruah and Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita held that the PIL was premature, as the petitioner had not first approached the Ministry of Home Affairs with their grievances.
The petitioner’s counsel, Mr. D. Mazumdar, conceded this point, acknowledging the requirement to exhaust administrative remedies before seeking judicial intervention.
The court dismissed the PIL, granting the petitioner liberty to approach the Ministry of Home Affairs if advised.
Notably, the court refrained from commenting on the petitioner’s locus standi, given the counsel’s decision to withdraw.