(1.) PETITIONER in this writ petition has prayed for the relief to direct the respondents to make the payment of the amount of the prize of the Lottery Ticket of M. P. Daily Lottery. Petitioner won the first prize of Rs. 1 lac of the M. P. Daily Lottery in the draw held on 24-10-1992 bearing ticket No. OH 143819.
(2.) PETITIONER purchased the lottery and won the first prize over the ticket bearing No. OH 143819 in the draw of M. P. Daily Lottery run by Govt. of M. P. of which draw was held every day. Ticket was required to be presented within 30 days from the date of the draw. Petitioner was busy in agricultural operations and could not be able to go to Bhopal to receive the prize and hence sent a letter of intimation on 5-11-92. Petitioner visited the office of respondent No. 2 on 10-11-92 within 30 days from the date of the draw. He was asked by the officials of respondent No. 2 to bring Domicile Certificate, therefore, he returned back to his village and thereafter again appeared in the office of respondent No. 2 along with the Domicile Certificate and original ticket, copies of which are P-2 and P-3. He was asked to come after some days along with these documents. The petitioner submitted a representation (P-4) on 10-11-92. Petitioner again approached the respondent No. 2 but the officials of respondent No. 2 refused to accept the ticket. Petitioner was further asked to file an affidavit. Petitioner again went back to his village to swear an affidavit. Affidavit (P-5) was sworn before the Notary on 20-11-92 and he returned back to Bhopal along with affidavit and other documents. Again respondent No. 2 refused to accept the documents. They were not ready to hear anything as according to them since State Govt. has promulgated an Ordinance and banned all the activities of lottery, they were unable to do anything in respect of the prize of the lottery ticket. Petitioner was made to go back without receiving the prize of ticket and without the documents brought by him were not accepted by respondents. Hence, the present writ petition has been filed on 23-11 -92. As the last date for payment of the prize of the ticket was 24-11 -92, writ petition was presented before this Court on 23-11-92 within the period of 30 days from the date of draw on which petitioner won the first prize.
(3.) A return has been filed by respondent Nos. 1 and 2. It is contended in the return that the matter is governed by M. P. State Lottery Rules, 1991. Rule 12 deals with the payment of prizes. Rule 12 of the M. P. State Lottery Rules, 1991 is quoted below:-