APHC010447962025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY,THE TWENTY FOURTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 25681 OF 2Q2fi Between: Nandigama Cultural and Recreation Club, Registered Number 228/1978, Rep. by its Secretary, Chennupati Sambasiva Rao Andhra Pradesh- 517247 S/o. Venkateswararao ...PETITIONER AND 1. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Department of Home District 2. The Director General of Police, A.P. Police Headquarters Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh 3. The Commissioner of Police, NTR Commissionerate, Andhra Pradesh. 4. The Assistant Commissioner of Police Pradesh. 5. The Station House Officer Nandigama, Andhra Pradesh. Rep. by its Principal Secretary, A.P. State Secretariat, Velagapudi, Guntur , Mangalagiri, Vijayawada, Nandigama Division, Andhra Nandigama Town Police Station ...RESPONDENTS praying that in the the High Court may be Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India circumstances stated in the affidavit filed therewith pleased to pass an order, writ or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of Mandamus directing the Respondent No. 3 to 5 not to interfere with lawful activities of the Petitioner club including plying of rummy game of 13 cards which is not a game of chance and alleging that club was conducting such a game involving stakes is arbitrary, illegal 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 in the interests of justice. unjust, discriminatory, lA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to direct the Respondent No.3 to 5 to not to interfere with lawful activities of the Petitioner club including conducting of game of rummy- 13 cards with stake in the club premises. Counsel for the Petitioner: SRI UMESH CHANDRA P. V. G. Counsel for the Respondent Nos.1 to 5: GP FOR HOME The Court made the following: r APHC010447962025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) lU y WEDNESDAY,THE TWENTY FOURTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 25681 OF 2025 Between: 1. Nandigama Cultural and Recreation Club, Registered Number 228/1978, Rep by its Secretary, Chennupati Sambasiva Rao, S/o Venkateswararao Andhra Pradesh- 517247 ...Petitioner AND 1. The State of Andhra Pradesh, Rep by its Principal Secretary, Department of Home, A.P.State Secretariat, Velagapudi, Guntur District 2. The Director General of Police, A.P.Police Headquarters, Mangalagiri Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh 3. The Commissioner of Police, NTR Commissionerate, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. 4. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Nandigama Division Pradesh. Andhra 5. The Station House Officer, Nandigama Town Police Station Nandigama, Andhra Pradesh. ...Respondents Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed there\A/ith the High Court may be pleased topleased to pass an order, writ or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of Mandamus directing the Respondent interfere with lawful activities of the Petitioner club including plying of game of 13 cards which is not a game of chance and alleging that club conducting such a game involving stakes is arbitrary, illegal, discriminatory, violative of Article 14, 19 (1)(g) of the Constitution of No. 3 to 5 not to rummy was unjust, India and also contrary to the judgements of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the interests of justice and pass lA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased to direct the Respondent No.3 to 5 to 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 pass Counsel for the Petitioner: UMESH CHANDRA P V G Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR HOME The Court made the following order: THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 25681 OF 2025 ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India with the following prayer for: “...pleased to pass an order, writ or direction more particularly one in the nature of writ of Mandamus directing the Respondent No. 3 to 5 not to interfere with lawful activities of the Petitioner club including plying of rummy game of 13 cards which Is not a game of chance and alleging that club was conducting such a game involving stakes is arbitrary, Illegal, 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 in the interests ofjustice and pass...” unjust, 2. Heard Sri P.V.G.Umesh Chandra, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri V. Farooq, learned Government Pleader for Home appearing for the respondents. 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. The learned Assistant Government Pleader written instructions, submits that for Home, on the basis of a news item was published in Andhra Jyothi newspaper on 28.03.2025 alleging that gambling and illegal betting were being conducted at NCRC (OC) Club, Nandigama. Acting upon the said report, the Inspector of Police, Nandigama, along with his staff, visited the club on the same day to verify the information. However, the club was found locked activities at that time. Subsequently, a notice dated 28.03.2025 Secretary of the club, cautioning that if any gambling or illegal betting activities were found to be conducted within the club was issued to the premises, the club, its members, and management would be held liable for legal action. It is further submitted that, except for this verification and issuance of notice based on the news report, the respondent police have’ not interfered with the affairs of the petitioner’s club thereafter. The allegations made by the petitioner against the respondent police are false, baseless, and misconceived. 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 W.P.No.23929 of 2024 dated 26.06.2025 is extracted hereunder: order passed in ..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 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”. rooms 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 order as to cots. no 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 pending, if any, shall stand closed. Sd/- T. SRINIVASA RAO ASSISTANT REGISTRAR //TRUE COPY// SECTION OFFICER To, The Principal Secretary, Department of Home, A.P. State Secretariat, Velagapudi, Guntur District The Director General of Police, A.P.Police Headquarters, Mangalagiri, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh The Commissioner of Police, NTR Commissionerate Andhra Pradesh. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Nandigama Division, Andhra Pradesh. 1. 2. Vijayawada, 3. 4. % Town Police Station Officer, Nandigama 5. The Station House Nandigama, Andhra Pradesh. 6 One CC to Sn Umesh Chandra P. V. G., Advocate [OPUC) High Court of Andhra Pradesh [OUT] 7. TwoCCsto GP for Home, 8. Two CD Copies. (Along with a copy 26.06.2025) of the order in W.P. No.23929 of 2024 dated ssb HIGH COURT DATED:24/09/2025 ORDER WP No. 25681 OF 2025 ’sS'^ ^y) 2 4 007 2025 O Co tSectioB^5 disposing of the w.p. without costs / i APHC010466132024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3457; THURSDAY .THE TWENTY SIXTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N WRIT PETITION NO: 23929/2024 Between: The Cosmopolitan Club ...PETITIONEI AND The State Of Ap and Others ...RESPONDENT{S Counsel for the Petitioner: 1V V LAKSHMI NARAYAN/ Counsel for the Respondent(S): 1GP FOR HOMI The Court made the following: THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE HARINATH.N WRIT PETITION NO: 2392Q 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 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 the 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 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 WA.No.1167 of 2002, held that the police authorities cannot obstruct the in 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 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. are 5. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that this Court in WP.No.23274 of 2024 had granted interim orders directing the police follow the guidelines of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and follow due to process of law. 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 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.220 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/polic e 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 26.06.2025 KGM