Exclusive The Supreme Court bench comprising of Justices FM Ibrahim Kalifulla and Shiva Kirti Singh adjourned the Mahalakshmi Cultural Association “rummy for stakes” matter involving rummy clubs and online rummy companies to January 2015 without giving an exact date for the next hearing as the judges were busy with several other important hearings. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the exact date for the next hearing will only become known when the causelist is released in January.
It is also not known if the judges roster and bench would change by the time of the next hearing. However most people associated with the matter admit that the repeated adjournments and uncertainty of the bench is likely to delay the matter. Thus nobody would be able to predict timelines for final disposal of the matter with certainty.
Note: All further updates about hearings and other information regarding the Mahalakshmi Cultural Association matter until the final verdict will be posted here. Readers are requested to bookmark/save this link to be abreast with latest developments.
Update 1 (28/11/2014): Matter will now be listed on 14th January 2015 as per the Supreme Court website. The order of the Supreme Court on 26th November states that matter to be listed in January before the regular bench on a regular hearing day. Interim stay and protection from any criminal action also extended to Andhra Lee-Club Chennai who have filed Writ Petition (Civil) No. 859/2014 before the Supreme Court and are connected to the matter.
Update 2 (14/01/2015): Matter listed today third item in Court Room No. 8 before Justices Kalifulla and Abhay Manohar Sapre as per the Supreme Court website. As correctly predicted by us earlier, it seems that there is a change in the bench. Justice Kalifulla will remain on the bench after the rooster reshuffle while Justice Sapre will be part of the bench instead of Justice Shiva Kirti Singh. Further details about today’s hearing will be known shortly.
Update 3 (14/01/2015): Matter adjourned to 29th April 2015. Court referred to the fact that petitioners already have a stay vide order dated 11th May 2012 and hence their operations are not likely to be seriously affected. Further, the judges observed that the court already has a lot of pressing matters and hence this matter need not be heard urgently.
Update 4 (14/01/2015): Supreme Court formally allowed the impleadment of online rummy companies in its order today. Senior Advocate P. Chidambaram, former Union Minister for Finance, Commerce and Home along with senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi (who was representing the petitioners earlier as well) appeared for the petitioners today. Matter to be listed on 29th April.
Update 5 (21/04/2015): The matter was mentioned before a bench comprising Justices FMI Kalifulla and Shiva Kirti Singh on 20th April 2015 by Senior Advocate Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi. At the instance of Dr. Singhvi, the matter is now listed on 12th August 2015, (after the Supreme Court vacation) instead of the earlier scheduled date of 29th April.