Governor gives assent to Bill against online gambling

CHENNAI: Eighteen days after the Tamil Nadu state Assembly re-adopted the Bill against online gambling, Governor R N Ravi on Monday gave his assent.

Interestingly, Ravi gave his assent to the Bill shortly after Chief Minister M K Stalin moved a resolution in the state Assembly urging the President and Union Government to fix a time frame for the Governors to give assent for the Bills passed by the state Assembly.

The assent to the Bill came as a surprise in the backdrop of Governor's controversial speech that if the Governor witholds nod, it means Bill is dead.

Minister for Law S Regupathy received a communication from the Raj Bhavan regarding the Governor's nod to the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, said sources in the government.

Since the Bill gets it assent, a fine of Rs 5,000 or three months imprisonment with fine shall be imposed on offenders.

The Bill was first passed on October 19 last year following the recommendation of the committee that was headed by retired High Court Judge K Chandru. However, the Governor returned the Bill to the government on March 6, stating that the State Assembly has "no legislative competence".

Following this, the Chief Minister readopted the Bill in the Assembly on March 23 and informed on the occasion that 41 persons have ended their lives after losing their money in online gambling. AIADMK and BJP have also extended their support to the resolution. It was forwarded to the Governor's office on the following day. There were a few more cases of suicides after the assembly readopted the Bill.

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss said though the Governor's response in giving his nod for the Bill as a delayed one and welcome it. Henceforth, the suicides due to online gambling would come to an end, Ambumani added.

AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran also welcomed the Governor's assent to the Bill.

Allies up ante against Governor in Assembly

CHENNAI: Allies of the ruling DMK went all guns blazing against Governor RN Ravi in the Assembly as Chief Minister MK Stalin moved a resolution urging the President and Centre to fix a timeframe for Governor’s assent to Bills passed by the Assemblies.

Speaking on the motion in the House, CPM MLA ‘Nagai’ Mali said that he was unsure if such a “soft, composed and patient” resolution be moved against such a Governor.

Mali also said that the Chief Minister must move a resolution in the House demanding the Union government and the President to sack the incumbent Governor.

VCK legislature party leader Sinthanaiselvan said that a delegation of all MLAs of the state legislature must meet the President and urge him to remove the incumbent Governor.

He also added that the Governor violated the Constitution by holding “an office of profit” position as the chairman of Auroville foundation. Congress legislature party leader K Selvaperunthagai cited the case moved in the Supreme Court by Telangana government against their Governor for delaying assent to bills and said that the state government could also seek legal remedy.

Reading out the oath taken by the Governor, Selvaperunthagai referred to the disqualification of MLAs in the Assemby for violating the Constitution and oath of office and wondered if the disqualification does not apply to the Governor? Tamizhaga Valvurimai Katchi leader T Velmurugan and PMK legislature party leader GK Mani also spoke.