IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE TWENTY NINTH DAY OF APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND NINE PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE N.V. RAMANA WRIT PETITION NO : 29003 of 2008 Between: Sri Lakshmi Cultural Association Club a Society Registered in accordance with the provisions of the Act 35 of 2001 bearing registered No.69 of 2006 rep. by its President Y. Ramanamurthy, S/o. Ramaswamy, Aged 40 Years, R/o. 12-10-13, Medara Street, Srikakulam Town. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 Superintendent of Police, Srikakulam District, Srikakulam. 2 Deputy Superintendent of Police, Srikakulam District, Srikakulam. 3 Circle Inspector of Police, Srikakulam Town Division, Srikakulam. 4 Sub-Inspector of Police, Srikakulam 1 Town Police, Srikakulam. .....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 or Order or Direction more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus the action of the Respondents and more particularly the action of the Respondent 3 & 4 in not passing appropriate orders by permitting the petitioner's club to run the activities for which is established including playing the game of Rummy in the card room by the members of the petitioner club situated Chinna Bazar Street, Srikakulam, as illeal, arbitrary, and contrary to the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and violative of Art 14 of the Constitution of India. Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.TARLADA RAJASEKHAR RAO Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR HOME The Court made the following ORDER: THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE N.V. RAMANA Writ Petition No.29003 of 2008 Order: The petitioner seeks a writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in not permitting the petitioner-Club to run the activities for which it is established, including playing the game of Rummy, as illegal and arbitrary. The petitioner is a registered society functioning as a Club with several objects. The petitioner asserts that its members play the game of Rummy, a game of skill in the card room, which is not game of gambling, but a game of chance. In view of the decision of the Supreme Court in State of Andhra Pradesh v. K. Satyanarayana1, the pursuit of the game of Rummy in a card room in a licensed club does not offend the law. However, the petitioner states that it made a representation on 21.01.2008 to respondents 3 and 4 to permit it to run the club, which is closed for renovation of the premises to provide better amenities to the members of the club, in vain. Hence, the writ petition. It is also stated that in similar circumstances, this Court has disposed of several writ petitions directing the respondents not to interfere with the lawful activities of the petitioners-clubs therein, which is not disputed by the learned Government Pleader. However, the learned Government Pleader for Home submits that the respondents shall not prevent the members of the petitioner-club from pursuing their legitimate game of Rummy, but are entitled to periodically visit the petitioner-club premises to ensure that no untoward or illegal activities are pursued in the club premises. In the light of the submission made on behalf of the respondents by the learned Government Pleader for Home, the writ petition is disposed of directing respondents 3 and 4 to consider the representation, dated 21.01.2008, made by the petitioner-club and pass appropriate orders thereon, expeditiously. It is made clear that the respondents shall not interfere with the lawful activities of the petitioner- club or its members including playing the game of Rummy. However, they are at liberty to periodically visit the petitioner-club premises to ensure that no illegal activities are pursued in the petitioner-club. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of. No costs. ___________________ N.V. RAMANA, J. Date:29.04.2009 VGB 1 AIR 1968 SC 823