THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAJA ELANGO CRIMINAL PETITION No.8389 OF 2011 ORDER: Petitioners approach this Court with a prayer to quash the proceedings initiated against them in S.T.C. No. 41 of 2011 on the file of the Special Judicial Second Class Magistrate, Srikalahasthi, Chittoor District for the offences punishable under Sections 3 & 4 of A.P. Gaming Act, 1974. The petitioners are arrayed as accused in the said S.T.C. Heard. It is seen from the remand report that on 24.8.2011 at about 8.00 p.m. the petitioners were found playing the game of syndicate by betting money. Then the police arrested the petitioners in the presence of mediators and seized an amount of Rs.13,900/- in cash, 312 playing cards and 210 coins from their possession. On a perusal of the entire record, it is clear that the petitioners are playing the game of syndicate, which is a game of skill and not a game of chance and the recovery of the playing cards also clearly indicates that they are playing the game of rummy in the name of syndicate. As per the provisions of Sections 3 & 4 of A.P. Gaming Act, 1974, the game of skill will not come under the purview of the said provisions. Hence, the Criminal Petition is allowed and the proceedings initiated against the petitioners in S.T.C. No. 41 of 2011 on the file of the Special Judicial Second Class Magistrate, Srikalahasthi, Chittoor are hereby quashed. _______________________ JUSTICE RAJA ELANGO Date : 14.09.2011 pnb