Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi wrote to the state government seeking certain clarifications on the Online Gaming Bill which was passed in the recently concluded assembly session. The Bill replaces the Ordinance which is set to lapse on 27th November. Incidentally, the government has not yet notified the date for implementation of the Ordinance.
State government officials have said they will revert to the queries of the Governor immediately, reported Tamil news website Nakkheeran. Various political parties have been urging the Governor to approve the Bill immediately.
The news of governor seeking clarification comes even as the Law Minister S Regupathy few days back sought appointment of the governor to discuss the bill and seek for his assent. A bill becomes a law only when assented by the governor.
Meanwhile, AIADMK delegation led by former CM and party interim general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami met the governor at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday afternoon.The online gaming ban bill is among 20 bills pending with the governor. Reghupathy said the ordinance got assent of the governor the same day it was sent by his department.
“There has been no communication from the governor seeking any clarification,” the law minister told reporters in Chennai.
Last week, skill gaming body All India Gaming Federation and other gaming companies withdrew the petitions before the Madras High Court challenging the government’s ordinance following the submission from the state government that the ordinance was yet to come into force. The petitioners include PlayGames 24X7 Private Limited, and Head Digital Works Private Limited.
The self regulatory gaming body AIGF earlier urged the Tamil Nadu governor to not approve the proposed ordinance to ban online skill games including rummy and poker.
AIGF said a complete prohibition or ban on online skill-based games has been held to be arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional by the Hon’ble Madras High Court in a judgment of a division bench of the court dated 3rd August, 2021 in Junglee Games India Private Limited v. State of Tamil Nadu & Others (WP No. 18022/2020).