IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) WEDNESDAY, THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MS JUSTICE G.ROHINI WRIT PETITION NO : 22427 of 2008 Between: The Kodumur Town Recreation Club, Regd. No.99/97, Kodumur, rep. by its President, K.E. Seetha Ramudu, S/o. K.E. Peddavenkataswamy R/o. Kodumuru, Kurnool District. ..... PETITIONER AND 1 The Government of Andhra Pradesh, rep. by its Principal Secretary, Home Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2 The Superintendent Of Police, Kurnool District, Kurnool. 3 The Deputy Superintendent Of Police, Kurnool District, Kurnool. 4 The Station House Officer, Kodumuru Town Police Station, Kurnool 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 more particularly one in the nature of Writ of Mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in obstructing the petitioner club from conducting card room for playing the games of Rummy by its members and guests as illegal and arbitrary and consequently direct the respondents not to interfere with the activities of the petitioner club in conducting card rooms for playing the game of Rummy. Counsel for the Petitioner: MR.K.SITA RAM Counsel for the Respondent No.: GP FOR HOME The Court made the following : THE HON’BLE Ms. JUSTICE G. ROHINI WRIT PETITION No. 22427 of 2008 O R D E R: 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 consequently direct the respondents not to interfere with the legal activities of the petitioner-Club. Heard both 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 Date: 15-10-2008 Note: Issue C.C. by tomorrow. B/o KLP