Landmark Directive By Andhra High Court Provides Relief To Rummy Clubs

Harassment by authorities is extremely common, despite the law having legally declared games such as rummy as ones of skill and not gambling. This was seen in Karnataka, where recently the police recently raided a poker club. However, several card gaming clubs in Andhra Pradesh, including the Friends Cultural and Sports Society Club facing similar harassment decided to take legal recourse for the constant hounding.

These clubs have filed writ petitions in the Andhra High Court, asking that law authorities not interfere with the lawful conduct of rummy in their premises. In a unique order, the single judge bench of the Andhra Pradesh & Telangana High Court comprising of Justice AV Sesha Sai then directed that all rummy clubs install video/closed circuit cameras inside their premises to record the proceedings. The Court further directed that the cameras should be linked to the nearest police station and the office of the Superintendent of Police of that jurisdiction, to ensure that illegal activities were not carried out in the clubs in the name of rummy. The Home Department had alleged that these clubs conduct illegal games, such as kotha mukkalu and three cards.

This directive from the High Court is an important milestone for the gaming industry in its fight for legalized and trouble-free operations. It is a known fact that the police regularly terrorize even legal clubs, citing several ambiguous accusations. Simultaneously, there also exist many clubs that indulge in illegal activities, under the guise of card games.

This judgment has efficiently dealt with both sides of the issue, ensuring that legal clubs can operate without hindrance.

Additionally, Justice Sai directed that all recordings in rummy clubs be stored for at least 15 days for regular inspection. The directive has also given the police authority to enter rummy clubs, if evidence was found of any illegal activities being committed. It was further noted that any club refusing to comply with the directive or install the CCTVs, would automatically indicate violation of the Court orders.

Justice Sai cited several past rulings in the order. These included the 1967 Supreme Court judgment of State of Andhra Pradesh V. K. Satyanarayana that held rummy to be a game of skill, besides the landmark 1996 Supreme Court in Dr. KR Lakshmanan V. State of Tamil Nadu that further supported the 1967 ruling and also held that horse betting required substantial degree of skill.

In its defense, the Home Department’s relied on the division bench judgment of the Madras High Court in Mahalakshmi Cultural Association. But, the Andhra Court observed that the case had already been withdrawn from the Supreme Court and hence held no strength in this argument.

The judgment is a welcome one, as it is certain that it will add leverage to the many legal fights that are going on in several states for a similar legalization and operation of poker rooms, declaring poker as a game of skill.