APHC010625192025 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: 32591/2025 Between:

1. THE NARSAPUR YOUTH CLUB AND CULTURAL ASSOCIAITON,, REGD.NO.255 OF 2024 SITUATED AT D.NO.4-3, NAVARASAPURAM VILLAGE, NARASAPUR RURAL, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT, REP. BY ITS PRESIDENT NADIMPALLI SHYAMKUMAR RAJU S/O KRUSHNAM RAJU, AGE ABOUT 42 YEARS, OCC CULTIVATION, R/O H.NO.2-61, JAGANNADHAPURAM VILLAGE, MOGALTHURU MANDAL, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT.

...PETITIONER AND

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

2. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, AP. POLICE HEAD QUARTERS, MANGALAGIRI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE/DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICER, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT, BHIMAVARAM, ANDHRA PRADESH.

4. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE/ SUB DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICER, NARSAPURAM, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH.

5. THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER, NARSAPURAM RURAL POLICE STATION, NARSAPUR, WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH. ...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 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 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 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 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 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. ...”

2. Brief facts of the case are that the Petitioner is a Club established under the Andhra Pradesh Co-operative Societies Act, vide Registration No.255 of 2024 and represented by its President, Petitioner herein. The Club is managed by its Secretary, Managing Committee and other honorary office bearers. The Club is situated at Navarasapuram village, Narasapur Rural, 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 (rummy) within the club premise