IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC FRIDAY, THE 18TH APRIL 2008 / 29TH CHAITHRA 1930 WP(C).No. 13293 of 2008(G) -------------------------- PETITIONER: -------------- SIVA PRASAD, SECRETARY, FALCON RECREATION ART'S & SPORTS CLUB, MERRY COTTAGE, CHAVARCODE, PARIPPALLY. BY ADV. SRI.R.KRISHNA RAJ RESPONDENTS: ----------------- 1. THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, KOLLAM. 2. CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, PARAVUR CIRCLE. BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.SALIM P.A. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 18/04/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: ANTONY DOMINIC, J. ----------------------------------------------- W.P.(C) No. 13293 OF 2008 ----------------------------------------------- Dated this the 18th day of April, 2008 JUDGMENT Petitioner claims to be the Secretary of Falcon Recreation Art's & Sports Club registered under the Travancore Cochin Literary Scientific Societies Registration Act. The grievance in this writ petition is that though the members of the club play Rummy in its premises without any monetary transaction involved, there is continued inspection and harassment by the respondents on the allegation that the game they play is a skilled one. It is in view of this, this Writ Petition has been filed praying for an order directing that the respondents shall not interfere with the members of the petitioner club playing cards in its premises. 2. Petitioner refers to Ext.P1 order of this Court in OP No.38760 of 2001, passed in respect of a similar issue. In that case, this Court directed the respondents therein not to prevent the members of the petitioner club playing cards within its premises. Subsequently the writ petition was also disposed by Ext.P2 judgment, in terms of Ext.P1 interim order. WPC No. 13293 OF 2008 2 3. If as stated by the petitioners, the only activity that is going on in their premises is playing of Rummy and that too by their members without any monetary stakes, the respondents can have no objection in the same. It is also not a skilled game and hence the provisions of the Gaming Act are not applicable. 4. In view of this, there will be a direction to the respondents not to prevent the members of the petitioner's club playing Rummy within the premises. I clarify that under the guise of this judgment, the petitioner will not be entitled to permit any outsiders or non- members for playing the Rummy. It is also clarified that if any information regarding commission of any offence within the premises f the club is received, it will be open to the respondents to conduct inspection as is permissible in law. Writ Petition is disposed of as above. ANTONY DOMINIC, JUDGE ttb WPC No. 13293 OF 2008 3 WPC No. 13293 OF 2008 4 WPC No. 13293 OF 2008 5