SC to hear all petitions on new lottery rules

New Delhi, May 12 (PTI) The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the validity of the amendments made by the Centre in the Lotteries Regulation Act and directed the Sikkim and Bombay high courts to transfer the petitions to itself.

Allowing the plea of the Centre, a bench headed by justices Altamas Kabir and HL Gokhale also said the stay granted by it earlier on the Sikkim High Court order on the matter will continue.

The Centre had introduced some amendments in the Lotteries Regulation Act by bringing in the Lotteries (Regulation) Rules, 2010 with a view to balance inter-state competition in lottery trade.

Some provision of the new rules were challenged by some lottery agents before the Bombay and Sikkim high courts. The challenged rules 3 and 4 of new regulation pertain to directions on appointment of distributors or selling agents and prize money