State authorities cannot interfere with lawful recreational activities like card games at clubs unless there is clear evidence of illegal gambling, provided the club adheres to surveillance and regulatory guidelines set by the Court.

ORDER:

This Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking the following relief:-

“…to issue a writ, order or direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in interfering and harassing the petitioners lawful activities at Silver Jubilee Club Wanaparthy including playing of 13-card rummy without stakes, betting or profit motive, purely for recreational purposes, by threatening to register criminal cases and thereby illegally not allowing the petitioners and other members to legally gather and conduct activities at Silver Jubilee Club, wanaparthy including playing of 13 Card Rummy without stakes, betting or profit as illegal, arbitrary and in violation of the order in W.P. No.7128 of 2016 Consequently direct the respondents not to interfere and harass with the lawful, non-gambling activities of the petitioners with other members of Silver Jubilee Club, Wanaparthy, including playing of 13-card rummy without stakes, betting or profit motive, purely for recreational purposes, and pass such other order or orders…”

2. Heard Mr. Aila Krishna Chaitanya, learned counsel for the petitioners and learned Government Pleader for Home, for the respondents. Perused the record.

3. The petitioners are members of a club, namely M/s. Silver Jubilee Club (hereinafter referred to as ‘the club’). The grievance of the petitioners is that though no unlawful activity is being carried on by the petitioners, the respondents-police are allegedly interfering with the activities of their club and are threatening to register criminal cases against the members of the club.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the issue involved in the present writ petition is squarely covered by the order passed by this Court in W.P.No.7128 of 2016, dated 11.03.2026 and other batch matters. It is further submitted that the members of the petitioner club are only playing 13-card rummy without stakes, betting or profit motive and the same is purely recreational in nature.

5. Having regard to the submissions made and considering the earlier orders passed by this Court in similar matters, this Writ Petition is disposed of in terms of the order in W.P.No.7128 of 2016, dated 11.03.2026, subject to the following conditions:-

1. The respondent police authorities shall not interfere with the card game of rummy (13 card game) whatever be the stakes;

2. The petitioners shall install video cameras and record the entire recreational activities in the club and preserve the said data atleast for a period of fortnight so that the police and check the footage. The said C.C cameras shall be connected with the jurisdictional police station and the Office of the Superintendent of Police for observation by the police to find out as to whether members of the club are indulging in the activity of gambling. If any of the gaming places is not covered by C.C cameras, it is for the police to take action;

3. The police are entitled to enter into the premises of the petitioners’ club for taking action as per law in the event of there being any violation of the provisions of law by the petitioners and the petitioners shall not cause any hindrance to the police in exercising their statutory powers;

4. This order would not come in the way of the respondents from taking action as per law; and

5. Any deviation of the above guidelines by the petitioners’ club will be construed as violation of these orders.

Miscellaneous petitions, if any are pending, shall stand closed.