THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN WRIT PETITION NO.28476 OF 2011 ORDER: This Writ Petition is filed to declare the action of the respondents in interfering with the lawful activities of the petitioner’s club, as illegal and arbitrary and consequently to direct the respondents and their staff not to insist that they close down the club, and not to interfere with the lawful activities of the petitioner-club and its members and their guests while playing chess, caroms, playing (13 cards) Rummy with Syndicate/Stakes, conducting library and Gym and other skill games as per its Bye-Laws. The petitioner’s case in brief is that they are a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, to carry on with the objects of cultural and sports activities; to acquire land and buildings on lease for promoting sports and cultural activities; to unite all association members in achieving the common goals and aims; to set up library and provide medical assistance to poor and needy; to work for uplifting of poor in slum areas; and to develop brotherhood among the members, recreation for the members of the petitioner club etc. It is their case that, since establishment, the club is running in losses as the Society was established on a non-profit basis, and is functioning only to create recreation facilities for its members. Reference is made to the earlier Writ Petitions filed by the petitioner club i.e., W.P.No.29712 of 2010 and W.P.No.30680 of 2010, wherein this Court directed the respondents not to interfere with the legal activity of the petitioner society. Since the relief sought for in this Writ Petition relates to closure of the petitioner club, and their being barred from playing 13 cards game, it is wholly unnecessary to examine the contentions urged by Counsel on either side regarding the circumstances in which criminal cases were initiated against members of the petitioner club, or to the role of the police officials in this regard. Counsel, appearing on either side, would agree that the subject matter of this writ petition is covered by the order in W.P.No.24533 of 2011 and batch dated 09.09.2011 wherein this Court, while directing the respondents not to interfere with any card game of Rummy (a 13 cards game), whatever be the stakes, being played in the clubs, observed that the respondents were not precluded from entering into these clubs, from taking action in terms of Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act, 1974 (for short, “the Act”) and, thereafter, to initiate penal proceedings under Sections 3 and 4 for violation of the provisions of the Act. This Court made it clear that the petitioner clubs should cause no hindrance to the respondents in exercising their statutory powers under Section 5 or any other provisions of the Act. The Writ Petition is also disposed of in accordance with, and in terms of, the order passed in W.P.No.24533 of 2011 and batch dated 09.09.2011. However, in the circumstances, without costs. _______________________ (RAMESH RANGANATHAN, J) 29th October 2011 RRB