APHC010632732025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3396]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

TUESDAY,THE SIXTH DAY OF JANUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE VENKATA JYOTHIRMAI PRATAPA WRIT PETITION NO: 32728/2025 Between:

1. THE BHIMAVARAM LORD HARDING TOWN HALL ASSOCIATION, REGD. NO. 15/1939-40, BHIMAVARAM, WEST GODAVARI DIST, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY BATHU KRISHNA RAO S/O TATA RAO, AGE 75 YEARS, R/O BANK COLONY, BHIMAVARAM, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT.

...PETITIONER AND

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

2. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, POLICE HEAD QUARTERS, MANGALAGIRI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE/DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICER, WEST GODAVARI AT BHIMAVARAM.

4. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE/SUB DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICER, BHIMAVARAM, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT.

5. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER/INSPECTOR OF POLICE, BHIMAVARAM I TOWN POLICE STATION, BHIMAVARAM, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT.

...RESPONDENT(S):

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 an appropriate 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 Articles 14, 19(i)(g) 6f 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 Town Hall Club, situated at Door No.23-4-38, Town Hall Road, Bhimavaram, West Godavari District 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 and to pass Counsel for the Petitioner:

1. POLISETTY RADHA KRISHNA Counsel for the Respondent(S):

1. GP FOR HOME The Court made the following:

ORDER

The instant Writ Petition is filed by the Petitioner seeking indulgence of this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for the following relief:

“.... to issue an appropriate 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 Articles 14, 19(i)(g) 6f 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 Town Hall Club, situated at Door No.23-4-38, Town Hall Road, Bhimavaram, West Godavari District 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 and to pass ...”

2. Brief facts of the case are that the Petitioner is a registered Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 vide Registration No.15/1939-40 in the year 1939 and represented by its Secretary, Petitioner herein. The Club is managed by its Secretary, President, Managing Committee and other honorary office bearers. The Club is situated at Bhimavaram, West Godavari District. The Club is providing various day to day recreation activities to its members including cards room for its members and guests by organising game of skills like 13 card game (rummy) for which there is a separate play card room to play the game (ru