APHC010466132024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE TWENTY SIXTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE r-: - PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N WRIT PETITION NO: 23929 OF 2024 Between: The Cosmopolitan Club, Registration No.2/1933, Raniakrishnapuram , Eluru Rep. by its Secretary, Ethakota Srinivasarao, S/o. Bhimeswararao, age 58 years Eluru, Eluru District, Andhra Pradesh. R/o. H.N0.23A-6-45, Sankaramatam Street, Ramachandrarao peta. ...Petitioner AND 1. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Department of Home, Secretariat Buildings, Velagapudi, Amaravati. 2. The Director General of Police, AP Police Head Quarters, Mangalagiri Guntur District. 3. The Superintendent of Police, Eluru District, Eluru City, Andhra Pradesh. 4. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, NR Pet, Eluru City, Eluru District, Andhra Pradesh. 5. The Station House Officer/ Inspector of Police, III Town PS Eluru, Eluru City, Andhra Pradesh. 6. The Sub Inspector of Police, III Town PS Eluru, Eluru city, Andhra Pradesh. ...Respondents Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith, the High Court may be pleased to issue any writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of WRIT OF MANDAMUS declaring the action of the respondents in interfering with lawful activities of the petitioner club including playing of rummy game of 13 cards which is not a game of chance and insisting to close down the playing card rooms to play the game of rummy (13 cards) as being arbitrary, illegal, unjust, discriminatory, violative of Article 14, 19(1)(g) of the ^ Constitution of India, and also contrary to the judgements of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and consequently direct the respondents not to interfere with the lawful activities of the petitioner club including playing of rummy game of 13 cards which is not a game of chance and including not to insist to close down the card room to play the rummy/13 card game. lA NO: 1 OF 2024 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the writ petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the respondent Nos.4 to 6 not to interfere with lawful activities of the petitioner club including conducting of game of rummy - 13 cards with stake in the club premises, and to insisting to close down the card rooms to play the game of rummy/syndicate (13 Card game), in the interest of justice, pending disposal of the writ petition. Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI V. V. LAKSHMI NARAYANA Counsel for the Respondents : GP FOR HOME The Court made the following: ORDER APHC010466132024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3457] f THURSDAY ,THE TWENTY SIXTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSANDAND TWENTYFIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N WRIT PETITION NO: 23929/2024 Between: The Cosmopolitan Club ...PETITIONEI AND The State Of Ap and Others Counsel for the Petitioner: ...RESPONDENT(S 1V V LAKSHMI NARAYAN/ Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1GP FOR HOMI f The Court made the following: f THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N WRIT PETITION NO: 23929 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 r 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. r 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.Satyanarayana\ 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 i i 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 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 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 dubs are allow to play game of rummy with stakes/syndicate (13 card game), however, it was left open for the police to enter the and to check on the card room whether the members and guests 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 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 of law. room where in i premises are room. process i 6. The learned Assistant Government Pleader appearing for the State submits that the police on receipt of credible information conducted raid on the ^AIR 1968 SC 825 w petitioner and registered Crime No. 136 of 2010. The said case ended in acquittal on 02.11.2015 another crime was also registered vide Cr.No.22y of 2024 which was also ended in acquittal and that thereafter the petitioner never interfered in the activities of the club. 7. The learned Assistant Government Pleader further submits that initially there were no CC earners 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 f 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. S6I- N HAGAWMA assistant REGISTRAR //TRUE COPY// SECTION officer To, 1. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Department of Home, Secretariat Buildings, Velagapudi, Amaravati. 2. The Director General of Police, AP Police Head Quarters, Mangalagiri Guntur District. 3. The Superintendent of Police, Eluru District, Eluru City, Andhra Pradesh. 4. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, NR Pet, Eluru City, Eluru District Andhra Pradesh. 5. The Station House Officer/ Inspector of Police, III Town PS Eluru, Eluru City, Andhra Pradesh. 6. The Sub Inspector of Police, III Town PS Eluru, Eluru city, Andhra Pradesh. 7. One CC to Sri V. V. Lakshmi Narayana, Advocate [OPUC] 8. Two CCs to GP for Home, High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati [OUT] 9. Three CD Copies Cnr / HIGH COURT DATED:26/06/2025 ORDER WP 23929/2024 0 7 JUL 2025 1 ^^NxuKtntSectioO;^ €! m Co O DISPOSING OF THE W.P. WITHOUT COSTS