IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) THURSDAY, THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MS JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION NO.22556 of 2008 Between: Pelleti Rami Reddy Club, Gudur, Nellore District, [Rgd. No.282/89], Rep. by its President, K. Sundara Rami Reddy, S/o. Late K. Narasa Reddy, Aged 64 Years, Mutyalapet, Gudur, Nellore District. ...PETITIONER AND 1 The Superintendent of Police, Nellore, Nellore District. 2 The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Gudur, Nellore District. 3 The Circle Inspector of Police, Gudur, Nellore District. 4 The Station House Officer, I-Town Police Station, Gudur, Nellore District. ...RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Aﬃdavit ﬁled herein the High Court will be pleased to issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of Mandamus or otherwise restraining the respondents from interfering with the legal activities of the Petitioner Club, including allowing the members of the Petitioner Club to play the game of 13 cards rummy, with stakes [strike game / syndicate game], and in the event if the Respondents wanted to search or inspect the Petitioner Club premise, more particularly the card room, it should be done in the presence of three mediators of respectable status in the society, one among them shall be a Gazetted Oﬃcer, as per the orders of the Hon'ble High court in W.P.No.10074/2004 dated 21.06.2004, and pass such other order or orders as it deems fit and proper. Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.P.V.KRISHNAIAH Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR HOME The Court made the following: THE HON'BLE MS JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION NO.22556 of 2008 ORDER: In the Writ Petition, the petitioner is seeking a Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in directing the members of the petitioner-Club not to play game of Rummy as arbitrary and illegal and consequentially direct the respondents not to interfere with the legal activities of the petitioner-Club. Heard both the sides. It has been represented by the learned counsel for the petitioner and also by the learned Government Pleader for Home that the issue involved in this Writ Petition is squarely covered by a judgment of Division Bench of this Court in Writ Appeal No.1167 of 2002, dated 29.07.2002, wherein it is held as follows: “Therefore, the police authorities cannot obstruct the writ petitioner-club from conducting card room where the members and guests of the writ petitioner’s cultural center are allowed to play the game of rummy with stakes syndicate (thirteen card game). At the same time, we make it clear that the police is always at liberty to enter the premises and check as to whether the cultural center of the club is conducting card room where the members and guests of the petitioner’s cultural center are playing the game of rummy with stakes/syndicate (thirteen card game), for the purpose of veriﬁcation. If they receive any intimation, the police may enter the club and verify the same and proceed further if the members and guests of writ petitioner’s cultural center play other than the game of rummy with stakes syndicate (thirteen card game). The police authorities are also at liberty to proceed with the cases, which are already registered. The Writ Appeal is disposed of accordingly.” Following the same, and for the reasons mentioned therein, the Writ Petition is disposed of in terms of the above decision of the Division Bench. However, it is made clear that the respondents are at liberty to take appropriate action against the members of the petitioner-Club if they promote any illegal activity at the premises of the petitioner-Club. No costs. ____________ (G.ROHINI, J) 16th October 2008 Note: CC in two days B/O RRB