Supreme Court stays Sikkim HC ban on lottery sale

New Delhi, Apr 21 (PTI) The Supreme Court today stayed the Sikkim High Court order banning sale of lotteries across the country.

A bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan stayed the interim order passed by the Sikkim High Court on the plea of Nagaland. In its petition, the Nagaland contended the Sikkim High Court erroneously stayed the rules framed by the Centre to ensure level-playing field for all states.

On April 8 this year, the Sikkim HC stopped operations of the rules framed by the Centre under the Lotteries Regulation Act in all the states.

Attorney General GE Vahanvati, appearing for Nagaland submitted that the HC should not have stayed ex-parte without even hearing other states which are organising lotteries as per the lotteries regulation Act and rules.