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.
CHENNAI: Hours before the Tamil Nadu Assembly resolved to readopt the Bill against online gambling, Governor RN Ravi’s visit to Delhi to meet Union Minister Amit Shah has spiced up the political scenario in the state. Cutting across political parties, including the prime opposition party and its ally BJP, have extended their support for the readopt the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2022 that was moved by Chief Minister MK Stalin. The Bill was returned by the Governor on March 6, stating that the state Assembly has no legislative competency to bring legislation to ban online gambling.
Amid such circumstances, the Governor’s Delhi trip gains significance. The Governor’s office later posted a picture of the meeting of Shah and RN Ravi on their social media handle.
CPM urges Governor to approve renacted Bill
As the state government re-enacted a Bill banning online gambling, the CPM urged the governor to approve the Bill without political animosity. In a statement, CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan said that around 50 persons have lost their lives due to online gambling.
He recalled that Governor RN Ravi delayed approving the Bill and returned it on March 6. While responding to a question, the minister for Information and Broadcasting clarified that the state governments have the powers to enact a Bill banning online gambling. “At this juncture, the State Assembly has passed a resolution to enact a Bill unanimously. It is commendable that the government acts with determination. So, the governor should give approval to the bill without any political animosity, “he added.
He also urged the political parties to demand the union government enact a similar law at the national level.