1 APHC010440042024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3396] WEDNESDAY, THE NINETEENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 22915/2024 Between: 1. THE KESARI CLUB, RAJAMAHENDRAVAM A SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT REGISTRATION NO 240/F,1956, ALCOT GARNDENS, RAJAHMUHDRY CITY EAST GOADAVARI DISTRICTREP BY ITS SECRETARY. SRI.KOVUJULA VENKATARAMANA S/O.VENKATESWARLU AGED ABOUT 78 YEARS, OCC- BUSINESS, R/O.4-5-4, ASHOKA VEEDHI ALCOT GARDENS, RAJAHMUNDRY URBAN. ...PETITIONER AND 1. THE STATE OF AP, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY HOME DEPARTMENT SECRETARIAT VALAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT. 2. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH MANGALAGIRI, GUNTUR DISTRICT 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, RAJAMAHENDRAVAM URBAN, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH 4. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, RAJAMAHENDRAVAM II TOWN POLICE STATION RAJAMAHENDRAVAM URBAN, EAST GODAVARI DISTRICT ...RESPONDENT(S): Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. B.SUDHAKAR KUMAR Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1. GP FOR HOME The Court made the following: ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India with the following prayer for: <.... to issue a writ, order or direction the nature of writ of Mandamus respondents in frequent interfering with the legal activities of the petitioner club, by directing the petitioner club not to conduct in the game of rummy (13 cards game ) with stakes (strike 2 game / syndicate game, bridge) for its members and their guests as Illegal, arbitrary and Consequently direct the respondents not to interfere with the leg al activities of the petitioner club.” 2. Heard Sri B.Sudakar Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Md.Farooq, learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home. 3. The case of the petitioner is that the petitioner society is duly registered and is conducting lawful cultural and recreational activities including the game of rummy with 13 cards. It is contended that the police are interfering with the said activities without any authority of law and are seeking to prevent the members of the association from playing rummy, despite the same being a game of skill. 4. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home, by way of a counter- affidavit, would submit that the explanation added by the 2020 amendment of the Act clearly stipulates that any game played for stakes, including a game of skill, shall be deemed to constitute gaming for the purposes of the Act. Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home would further submit that Section 15(1) of the amended Act specifically prohibits any person from opening, keeping, or using any house, room, or place for the purpose of gaming for money or other stakes. 5. In reply, learned counsel for the petitioner brought to the notice of the Court that the subject matter of this Writ Petition is squarely covered by the similar order passed by this Court in W.P.No.23929 of 2024 dated 26.06.2025. 6. For ready reference the operative portion of this order passed in W.P.No.23929 of 2024 dated 26.06.2025 is extracted hereunder: 3 <…the writ petition is disposed of 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=. 7. Hence, following the said Order passed by this Court in W.P.No.23929 of 2024 dated 26.06.2025 and taking into consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, this Writ Petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to cots. 8. A copy of the order in W.P.No.23929 of 2024 dated 26.06.2025, shall be annexed to the copy of this Writ Petition. As a sequel thereto, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed. __________________________________ Dr.VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA, J Date: 19.11.2025 ASR 4 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA W.P.No.22915 of 2024 Dt..19.11.2025 ASR