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TN’s law minister meets governor; discusses online gambling ban bill
Tamil Nadu (TN) law minister S. Regupathy met with the governor on December 1 to address concerns brought up by the Raj Bhavan. TN Governor RN Ravi has yet to sign the bill outlawing online gambling and a few other online games. Due to Governor RN Ravi’s delay, the ordinance made public by the state government in October lapsed recently. Speaking on the urgent matter, the Regupathy
said, “17 people had killed themselves due to online gambling and games when the ordinance was promulgated. It has risen to 25 now. The Governor had asked for some clarifications. We have given it in writing. We hope he will give assent soon.” While speaking on the difference between online and offline versions of these games, Regupathy said, “Online games can be programmed with algorithms in a certain way, and money of ordinary people could be looted. For example, one would get an SMS saying he or she has been offered ₹ 8,000 to play an online game. Ultimately, that person may lose 8 lakh.”
“We don’t have any such reports of people killing
themselves in offline games,” he added. The previous AIADMK government also passed a
law banning internet games, but the court overturned it after an appeal by online gaming companies. In response to comments from the general public, educators, academicians, and psychiatrists, the current DMK administration assembled a panel led by retired judge Justice K Chandru of the Madras High Court and submitted this Bill based on its recommendations. The BJP-run union government selected
governors, according to the current governing party DMK, take a hostile stance “operating a parallel administration” against elected governments in states where the opposition is in power. The DMK has requested the expulsion of the Tamil Nadu Governor. The Governor has not yet signed 21 laws passed
by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, some of which have been pending for more than a year.
A few of the bills seek to limit the governor’s
ability to designate vice-chancellors to state-run universities. The Assembly in Kerala has also approved bills that would have the Governor cease serving as Chancellor of Universities. Recently, the Supreme Court also declared that
Governors must follow state government recommendations. According to Regupathy, “Unless we bring about
a constitutional amendment making Governors respond within a stipulated time frame, we can’t demand so.” Governor RN Ravi described withholding of bills
as “a courteous way of saying no” in a recent conversation with a group of journalists. When asked specifically how he could block bills
that would limit his authority and whether the courts should have the final say, he responded, “the Governor has powers to do it.”
TN: Political parties accuse Governor of favouring online gaming entities by not assenting to the Gaming Ban Bill
Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi has received severe criticism from political parties for “delaying” his assent to the bill banning online gambling in the state passed by the assembly on October 19. Officially titled ‘The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online
Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2022’ it can become an Act only when assented by the Governor. The Ordinance, which was promulgated on October 1 preceding the Bill, lapsed at the end of November. Technically, there is no law to ban or regulate online gaming as of date since the Ordinance has lapsed. Clarifying the queries raised by the Governor, the
Tamil Nadu government said no complete ban on online games has been proposed but only online gambling has been proscribed in the state under the Bill. The Governor particularly raised queries in relation to doctrine of proportionality since the earlier law was struck down by the Madras High Court on this ground.
22 DECEMBER 2022 Meanwhile, the DMK leader and MP Kanimozhi
wondered why the Governor refused to approve the Bill even after the state government clarified his doubts. “I don’t know why they are so eager to protect online rummy,” she was quoted in media reports. She said her party believes there is no requirement for the post of Governor. Similarly, several political parties including CPM,
CPM, MDMK, PMK, and VCK registered their criticism to Governor over his inaction to assent the Bill. While demanding the immediate approval of legislation, PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss said, “More than 32 people have committed suicide due to online gaming in the last 15 months. In a bid to prevent such a tragedy, a ban on online gaming is a must.” When press persons queried Telangana and
Puducherry Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan on this, she told the media to address their queries to the Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi. Governor Tamilsai was formerly president of Tamil Nadu BJP.
Law Minister S Ragupathy said that the government
has answered all the queries raised by the Governor and that the ball is now in the latter’s court. “We expected the Governor to accept the Bill after our reply. But only he will be able to say why he failed to give his assent. We passed the Bill in the Assembly because people were suffering. We have no powers to question the Governor,” he was quoted by Deccan Herald. Non-NDA parties have accused the Governors of
running parallel governments in non-BJP ruled states by stalling bills approved by elected legislatures. Interestingly, Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai has supported the gaming ban enactment.
Monika Wisniewska/Adobe Stock
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