APHC010403202025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3396]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

WEDNESDAY, THE SEVENTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT HONOURABLE DR. JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 21026/2025 Between:

1. COSMOPOLITAN CULTURAL CENTRE, REP BY ITS. SECRETARY, O/O. COSMOPOLITAN CULTURAL CENTRE, D.NO. 81/5-B-2-1, 2,3, ADJACENT TO OLD RAGHUNATH THEATRE RAGHAVENDRA NAGAR, KALLUR, KURNOOL- 518003.

2. B. LAKSHMI REDDY,, S/O B. VENKATESWARA REDDY, AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, OCC SECRETARY, O/O. COSMOPOLITAN CULTURAL CENTRE, D.NO. 81/5-B-2-1, 2,3, ADJACENT TO OLD RAGHUNATH THEATRE RAGHAVENDRA NAGAR, KALLUR, KURNOOL- 518003.

...PETITIONER(S)

AND

1. THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY HOME DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

2. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, FOR STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL, MANGALAGIRI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, DISTRICT POLICE OFFICE, BESIDE KONDA REDDY, BURJU KURNOOL, KURNOOL DISTRICT -

518001

4. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, DISTRICT POLICE OFFICE, BESIDE KONDA REDDY, BURJU KURNOOL - 518001

5. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, KURNOOL IV TOWN, KURNOOL DISTRICT.

...RESPONDENT(S):

Counsel for the Petitioner(S):

1. K V ADITYA CHOWDARY 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:

“....a 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 also 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 judgments of the Honble 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 on close down the card room to play the rummy/13 card game.”

2. Heard Sri K.V.Aditya Chowdary, learned counsel for the Petitioners and Ms.A.Jayanthi, learned Government Pleader for Home.

3. Learned counsel for the Petitioner would submit 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 and are seeking to prevent the members of the association from playing rummy, despite the same being a game of skill.

4. Learned Government Pleader for Home would submit that the subject matter of this writ petition is squarely covered by the Order dated 16.12.2025 passed by this Court in I.A.No.7 of 2025 in W.P.No.11394 of 2024.

5. For ready reference, the relevant portion of the Order dated 16.12.2025 passed by this Court in I.A.No.7 of 2025 in W.P.No.11394 of 2024 is extracted hereunder:

“ 6. ………. the common gaming house is a place where a premises is established for purpose of gaming and wagering or betting now specifically includes any act of risking of money or playing stakes or otherwise on the result of a game or an event including on a „game of skill‟ and playing a game of skill with stakes is a punishable offence under the Act.

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8. …….. Respondent / Writ Petitioner is permitted to conduct card rooms for playing 13 card (rummy) game without stakes. However, the Police are at liberty to monitor the activities of the Petitioner – Club from time to time and take necessary action, in case of any violation of this order. There shall be no order as to costs”.

6. Hence, following the said Order passed by this Court in I.A.No.7 of 2025 in W.P.No.11394 of 2024 and taking into consideration of the facts and c