Durai Vaiko, the secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) headquarters, asked the Tamil Nadu government yesterday to appeal Governor R.N. Ravi’s decision to return the bill outlawing online gambling including online rummy to the Supreme Court.
Vaiko indicated that the Telangana government has previously approached the Supreme Court against the Governor of the state for not approving the bills passed by the Assembly.
Further, Vaiko pointed out the statement made by Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur in response to DMK MP S.R. Parthipan that under the 7th schedule of the Indian Constitution, States were given the authority to put a ban on online betting and gambling.
“Mr. Ravi has lost his moral authority to continue as the Governor of the State after the Union Minister has clearly explained the State government’s position on the issue. The Governor has acted against the wish and interests of the people of Tamil Nadu,” he claimed as quoted by The Hindu.
According to him, up to 44 people have experienced depression and committed suicide after playing and losing money in online rummy. Durai said, “Social activists and psychiatrists have made a strong case for banning online rummy and gambling.”
Durai stated that online gambling is illegal under the Information and Technology (IT) Act, 2000, and the State government has the authority to take actions against it since it falls under the purview of law enforcement and public order.
