WP/38995/2013 of Royal County Resort Club, Vs The Superintendent of Police, on 31 December 2013

ORDER:

The petitioner is a club. It avers that the respondents are interfering withits functioning and not permitting its members to play shuttle, badminton, tennis,caroms, Chinese checker, chess or use of swimming pool, health club, yogaetc. All the activities performed by the club are lawful and the police cannotinterfere with its activities.

It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home appearing for the respondents thatsimilar matters have been disposed of in view of the judgment of a DivisionBench of this Court in TWIN CITIES CINEMA CULTURAL CENTRE v.COMMISSIONER OF POLICE[[1]],whereinthe Division Bench held as under:

“Therefore, the police authorities cannot obstruct the writpetitioner-Club from conducting card room where the membersand guests of the writ petitioner’s cultural center are allowed toplay the game of rummy with stakes/syndicate (thirteen cardgame). At the same time, we make it clear that the police is alwaysat liberty to enter the premises and check as to whether thecultural center of the Club is conducting card room where themembers and guests of petitioner’s cultural center are playing thegame of rummy with stakes/syndicate (thirteen card game) for thepurpose of verification. If they receive any intimation, the Policemay enter the club and verify the same and proceed further if themembers and guests of writ petitioner’s cultural center play otherthan the game of rummy with stakes/syndicate (thirteen cardgame), the police authorities are also at liberty to proceed with thecases, which are already registered. The writ appeal is disposedof accordingly.”

Following the above judgment of the Division Bench of this Court, this writpetition is disposed of with a direction to the respondents not to interfere withthe lawful activities of the petitioner-association, including the playing of thecard game rummy by its members. However, it is made clear that if anyobjectionable games or activities are undertaken in the petitioner-association,this order will not preclude the respondents from entering into the premises andtaking necessary steps in accordance with law. There shall be no order as tocosts.

Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in this writpetition shall stand closed.

___________________

P.NAVEEN RAO, J

December 31[st], 2013.

Note : Issue C.C. in one week.

(B/o)

ssp