[Cites 4, Cited by 0]
Madras High Court
Mrp Sports And Recreation Club vs The Superintendent Of Police on 18 February, 2026
Author: S.Srimathy
Bench: S.Srimathy
WP CRL.(MD). No.1306 of 2025
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
Dated : 18.02.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE S.SRIMATHY
W.P.CRL.(MD). No.1306 of 2025
MRP Sports and Recreation Club,
Rep. by its President,
N.Mathan,
S/o.P.Natarajan,
No.1/492, 1st Street,
Mappillaiyurani,
Tuticorin. ... Petitioner
Vs
1.The Superintendent of Police,
Tuticorin.
2.The Inspector of Police,
Thalamuthu Nagar,
Tuticorin. ... Respondents
PRAYER :- Writ Petition is filed under Article 226 of the Constitution
of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, forbearing the respondents from
interfering with the lawful activity of playing “Rummy” (13 cards)
without stakes or money by the members of the petitioner club, based on
the representation dated 28.04.2025.
1/6
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WP CRL.(MD). No.1306 of 2025
For Petitioner : Mr.T.Bashyam
For Respondents : Mr.A.S.Abul Kalaam Azad,
Government Advocate
(Criminal Side)
ORDER
This writ petition has been filed seeking a direction, forbearing the
respondents from interfering with the lawful activity of playing Rummy
(13 cards) by the members of the petitioner Club.
2. It is the case of the petitioner that he is running a recreation
club, where their members play rummy without stakes, and that the
police are very frequently interfering and harassing them. Therefore, the
petitioner has filed the present writ petition with the aforesaid prayer.
3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that
Section 3 of the City Police Act, 1888 defines “the Common Gaming
House“. Section 45 of City Police Act prescribes the punishment for
using a place as a “Common Gaming House“. A reading of both the
provisions show that in a place, where game is played on wager or bet,
the police have got right to interfere and prosecute the persons, who run
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the place, under Section 45 of the City Police Act. In this case, the
petitioner is running a recreation club for its members, wherein according
to the petitioner, game of rummy is played without stakes.
4. However, the learned Government Advocate (Criminal side), on
instructions, submitted that the police are not causing any disturbance to
the activities of the petitioner.
5. The submission of the learned Government Advocate (Criminal
side) is recorded. It is also seen that a Division Bench of this Court in
the case of the Director General of Police, State of Tamil Nadu,
Mahalakshmi Cultural Association report in 2012(2) CTC 484 has gone
into this aspect of recreation club permitting the recreation club to play
rummy without stakes and held as follows :
“24. On the basis of the above discussions, we arrive
at the following conclusions:
(1) The game of rummy (13 card) is only a game of
skill even though an element of chance is also involved.
(2) In the event rummy is played by the members or
the guests without stakes, the provisions of the Chennai City
Police Act are not attracted.
(3) In the event rummy is played by the members of
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the guests with stakes, the provisions of the Chennai City
Police Act are attracted.
(4) In the event the Club/Association either allows its
members or gusts to play rummy with stakes or make any
profit or gain out of such gambling, the police has the
authority to invoke the provisions of the Chennai City
Police Act.
(5) In order to ascertain as to whether the premises is
used as a gaming house for gambling, the police is entitles
to invoke Section 23 of the Act.“
6. In view of the above, this Court directs that
(i) the petitioner Club shall not indulge in any activity by allowing
its members or the guests to play rummy (13 cards) with stakes and make
profit or gain.
(ii) the police are entitled to take action in the event of any illegal
activity is carried on in the Club premises.
(iii) the police shall not disturb the petitioner~Club frequently
under the guise of inspection without there being any reliable
information as to the illegal activities of the Club or its members or the
guests.
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7. With the above directions, this writ petition is disposed of. No
costs.
18.02.2026
(SSYJ)
pal
To
1.The Superintendent of Police,
Tuticorin.
2.The Inspector of Police,
Thalamuthu Nagar,
Tuticorin.
3.The Additional Public Prosecutor,
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court,
Madurai.
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S.SRIMATHY,J.
pal
ORDER
IN
Date: 18.02.2026
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