R GNANAVELAN Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The above writ petitions were heard together and are disposed of by this common judgment.

(2.) Raffles are conducted by the State of Tamil Nadu, first respondent in Writ petition No. 1384 of 1984 and the second respondent in writ petition No. 3635 of 1984. The Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Raffles, second respondent in writ petition No. 1384 of 1984 and the First Respondent in writ petition No. 3635 of 1984 and the Director of Tamil Nadu Raffles (third respondent in Writ petition No. 1384 of 1984) are in charge of the conduct of reffles. They held a bumper draw with an amount of Rs. 15 Lakhs (Rupees fifteen lakhs) for the first prize. The Original date of draw was scheduled to be 3-4-1977 but it was postponed and the draw was held on 25-5-1977 and the ticket bearing No. AB-275522 was declared to be entitled to the bumper prize of Rs. 15 lakhs.

(3.) On 27-5-1977 the Director of Raffles received a letter from one Pappa stating that she was the purchaser of the prize winning ticket but that she lost it. On 9-8-1977 the petitioner in W. P. No. 1384 of 1984, Gnanavelan (hereinafter referred to as the first petitioner) claimed the amount from the Director of Raffles and produced a ticket bearing the number above quoted. On 1-3-1977 the petitioner in W. P. No. 3635 of 1984, C. Subramaiam (hereinafter referred to as second petitioner) made a similar claim. It is worth noting that all the three claimants declared having purchased their ticket from one Meenakshi of Madurai.