Karnataka HC demands an explanation for not taking action against online gambling
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The Karnataka High Court has ordered the Chief Secretary of state to file an affidavit within a week regarding online gambling. A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj pointed out that the State Government has not yet placed its stand about online betting on record.
A notice regarding the matter was issued on 30 November 2020, which asked the state government to file a statement within six weeks. The court added that the excuse of the second wave of COVID does not pertain to the State until the second week of April 2020, reported the Live Law.
On 12 January 2021, the State Government of Karnataka had assured the High Court that a statement of objections will be filed within three weeks. This was not followed through.
The bench criticised the Karnataka government for not producing the decision of the Cabinet and not filing a statement of objections. The court called it a failure for not abiding by the instructions given by the court as well as not abiding by the assurances given to the court.
The State Government is expected to give reasons as to why it has not abided by the assurances given to the court about banning online betting. The affidavit is supposed to make the state's stand clear about taking action, said the Live Law report.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Sharada D R who sought after the law to ban all online gambling. The petition stated that the gullible and hapless sections of the society, particularly the youth, are falling prey to online gambling amid the pandemic.
The Kerala Government has recently made online gambling illegal following the directions of the High Court. The Madras High Court had also passed a similar order recently, which led to the Tamil Nadu Government bringing an ordinance. The Gujarat High Court has passed a similar order as well.
The Delhi High Court has ordered the Union of India and Delhi Government to treat any petition filed against online gambling as a representation.