APHC010466152024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3457] WEDNESDAY ,THE TWENTY FIFTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N WRIT PETITION NO: 23941/2024 Between: Lingamallu Venkata Rangayya And Sons Club And Reading Room (lvr Club) ...PETITIONER AND The State Of Ap and Others ...RESPONDENT(S) Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. V V LAKSHMI NARAYANA Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HOME The Court made the following: THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N WRIT PETITION NO: 23941 OF 2024 ORDER: 1. The petitioner is a registered club and has approached this Court seeking a declaration that the action of the respondents in interfering with lawful activities of the petitioner club including playing of a rummy game of 13 cards as illegal, irrational as game of rummy is not a game of chance and further a direction not to insist to close down the playing card rooms where game of rummy (13 cards) is played. 2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is reputed and established clubs operating for the last several decades. The petitioner club extent various recreational facilities for its members with provision for celebrating functions. The petitioner has several reputed and respectable person as their members. It is also submitted that the petitioner has always been extending their support as and when required for the society either during natural calamities or other exigencies. It is submitted that the police authorities have been repeatedly interfering with the cards section of the petitioner clubs suspecting that the members are indulging in gambling and that the cards room would have to be closed. 3. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the rummy is the game of skill and not the game of chance. It is also submitted that the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of State of Andhra Pradesh Vs. K.Satyanarayana1, held that game of rummy is a game of skill and that rummy cannot be said as a game of chance. As such, it is submitted that the rummy game organized in the clubs to their members cannot be prohibited. 4. It is submitted that interference by the police authorities in the day to day activities of the clubs more particularly with regard to the cards room where the petitioner is conducting game of rummy – 13 cards with stake within the club premises. It is also submitted that the Division Bench of this Court in WA.No.1167 of 2002, held that the police authorities cannot obstruct the club from conducting card room where the members and guests of the writ petitioners clubs are allow to play game of rummy with stakes/syndicate (13 card game), however, it was left open for the police to enter the premises and to check on the card room whether the members and guests are playing game of rummy with stakes. It was also left open to police to take necessary action in the event there is any violation found in the card room. 5. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that this Court in WP.No.23274 of 2024 had granted interim orders directing the police to follow the guidelines of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and follow due process of law. 1 AIR 1968 SC 825 6. The learned Assistant Government Pleader appearing for the State submits that the police on receipt of credible information the police issued notice to the petitioner on 05.10.2024, thereafter the petitioner approached this Court and the respondents not interfered in the activities of the club. 7. The learned Assistant Government Pleader further submits that initially there were no CC camers installed in the club and on verification after receipt of notice in the writ petition, the police have visited the club and found that the card room premises is equipped with CCTV Cameras. 8. Considering the submission of the learned Assistant Government Pleader, the writ petition is disposed off directing the respondent/police not to interfere in the day to day activities of the petitioner club including the card rooms where the petitioner is conducting rummy. The respondent/police authorities are at liberty to periodically check the activities of the petitioner club particularly the card rooms and the CCTV access be extended to the jurisdictional police station. The police are also directed to comply the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in such issues. 9. With the above observations, the writ petition is disposed off. No costs. As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed. ___________________ JUSTICE HARINATH.N 25.06.2025 KGM/BMS 176 THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N WRIT PETITION No.23941 OF 2024 Dated 25.06.2025 KGM/BMS