MLAs Colony Cultural Body Moves HC against Amendments to Telangana Gaming Act

Hyderabad: The MLAs’ Colony Residents Welfare and Cultural Association at Banjara Hills, whose members comprise the who’s who of the state, approached the Telangana High Court challenging the amendments to the Telangana Gaming Act, particularly the penal provisions for playing rummy and syndicate with stakes.

Association secretary K. Ramachandra Reddy challenged the amendments made in 2017 to the Telangana Gaming Act 1974 (Act No. 29/2017), particularly Section 15, which bans games with wagers and stakes.

Further, it was inserted that no order shall be made after the expiry of two years from the date of commencement of the 2017 Act, and every order made under the Section shall be laid before each House of the State Legislature.

Radha Krishna Polisetty, appearing for the association, said that the amendment was contrary to Articles 14, 19(1) (g) and 21 of the Constitution. He submitted that the card room activity in the MLAs Colony recreation centre was different from the card rooms in commercial clubs.

A division bench of the Telangana High Court, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Jukanti Anil Kumar, heard the petition and issued notices to the state government, home department, DGP and other police officials to submit their contention to the petition.