Urgent hearing of cases against ban on online rummy today in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Cases filed by online gaming companies challenging the Tamil Nadu government's latest ban against online rummy will be heard by Madras high court on April 27.
A division bench of Justice S Vaidyanathan and Justice R Kalaimathi agreed for the hearing in view of an urgent mention moved by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi on behalf of a gaming platform on Wednesday.
"The matter will be taken up for hearing tomorrow, if not ordered otherwise," the judges said.
In August 2021, the then first bench struck down an amendment made by the then AIADMK government to the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act thereby imposing a ban on online rummy.
After the DMK came to power, it constituted a committee headed by retired judge of the court Justice K Chandru to examine the adverse effects of online rummy. Based on the committee's recommendation, the government promulgated an ordinance prohibiting online rummy.
Subsequently, the government passed a bill in the state assembly to ban online rummy in October 2022 and the same was forwarded to the Tamil Nadu governor for his assent.
The bill was returned to the assembly by the governor's office in March 2023 suggesting some changes. On March 23, the state assembly once again re-adopted the bill and sent it for the approval of the governor.
After many deliberations, the governor gave his assent on April 11 which came into force with immediate effect.
Aggrieved, the online gaming platforms have moved the high court challenging the ban.
According to the petitioners, the state does not have legislative competence to enact an act to ban online rummy. It is long established that games of skill or competitions which involve substantial skill do not fall within the ambit of 'betting and gambling', they added.