SC's fiat to states on lottery business

A bench of justices Swatanter Kumar and Ibrahim Kalifullah recorded the undertaking from the Centre's counsel Wasim Ahmed Quadri who submitted the union government had issued a notification on April 1, 2010, for states to comply with the legislation.

The Centre told the court that Section 4 mandated that states may organise, conduct or promote a lottery subject to certain conditions stipulated in Section 4 of the Act.

According to the government, the following conditions have been notified for the States.

1. Prizes shall not be offered on any pre announced number or on the basis of a single digit.

2. The state government shall print the lottery tickets bearing the imprint and logo of the state in such a manner that the authenticity of the lottery ticket is ensured.

3. The state government shall sell the tickets either itself or through distributors or selling agents.

4. The proceeds of the sale of lottery tickets shall be credited into the public account of the state.

5. The state government itself shall conduct the draws of all the lotteries.

6. The prize money unclaimed within such time as may be prescribed by the state government or not otherwise distributed shall become the property of that government.

7. The place of draw shall be located within the state concerned.

8. No lottery shall have more than one draw in a week.