House unanimously passes Bill to ban e-gambling again

CHENNAI: For the second time, Tamil Nadu Assembly, on Thursday, unanimously passed a Bill to ban online gambling, weeks after Governor RN Ravi returned it claiming the Assembly had “no legislative competence”, and the Bill went against “several judicial pronouncements.” The Bill was first passed on October 19, 2022, by the DMK government based on recommendations by a committee headed by retired Justice K Chandru.

Though BJP MLA Nainar Nagendran pointed out his apprehensions with regard to the remarks raised against the Governor in the House by some legislators, he said his party would back the Bill.

Moving the Bill, Chief Minister MK Stalin told the House that it was regrettable to note that 41 persons have committed suicide after losing money in online gaming. “These deaths are happening in front of our eyes. This government, which has the law in its hands, has the duty and responsibility to stop this,” the CM said.

Realising this responsibility, the government set up a panel led by a retired judge of the Madras High Court Justice K Chandru for advising the government on drafting a new law, and the committee presented its report.

Pointing out that the expert committee submitted its report on June 26, 2022, the Chief Minister said “in continuation to this, the School Education Department also conducted a survey involving 2,04,114 teachers seeking their feedback with regard to online gaming”. “During the survey, 74% of teachers said children are losing concentration due to online gaming,” the Chief Minister said.

Stalin said similarly the public opinion was sought and of the 10,735 emails, 10,708 were in favour of banning online gambling.

“After considering all these, a Bill to ban online gambling was unanimously passed in the House on Oct 19, 2022,” he said adding “though the Governor had sought certain explanation, it was properly explained within 24 hours”.

Citing Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur’s reply in Parliament that since betting and gambling fall under the Constitution’s State List Entry 34, it has the right to enact a law, CM Stalin said in order to save the moral justice, this bill to prohibit online gambling was kept in the House, which should ensure that there should not be another suicide death in future.

Bill to ban online rummy after getting Centre’s nod, says Pondy Law Minister

Puducherry Law Minister K Lakshminararyanan on Thursday announced in the assembly that the territorial government has prepared a draft Bill to ban online rummy games in the union territory and it would be sent to the Centre for approval.

He was replying to the pleas made by members belonging to both the ruling and opposition blocks after DMK leader R Siva tabled call attention motion seeking steps to ban online rummy games.

The PWD Minister said, “there is no second opinion on the part of the government to ban the game. We have already prepared a Bill to ban it and after getting approval of the Centre, the Bill would be placed on the table of the House for a detailed debate and after adoption of the Bill the necessary Act would be enforced.”

Earlier, moving the call attention motion, Siva stressed the immediate need is to ban the game.