The Bench of Chief Justice D. N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan of Delhi High Court directed the Union Of India & Delhi Government to treat a petition filed against online gambling, as a representation and decide the grievances ventilated in the petition, as narrated in detail in the writ petition.
The court also directed the respondents (UOI & Delhi High Court) to decide the representation in accordance with law, rules, regulations and government policies applicable to the facts of the case of online gambling , as early as possible and practicable.
Issues Raised by the Petitioner against Online Gambling
A petition was moved by Tarun Chandiok in the nature of public interest litigation against online gambling with the following prayers:-
A. issue a direction, order or writ, including a writ in the nature of mandamus against the Respondents thereby, enjoining them to interdict access of internet content involving websites and mobile application (“apps”) facilitating proscribed “gaming”, whether in the name of online fantasy gaming or skill monetization or game of skill, within the meaning of the Public Gambling Act, 1867 and the Delhi Public Gambling Act, 1955; and
B. issue a direction, order or writ, including a writ in the nature of mandamus against the Respondents thereby directing them to restrain broadcasters, television channels, radio, internet companies, etc. from running advertisements, campaigns, endorsements, promotional features, etc. apropos of such illegally run gaming websites and/or mobile applications insofar as it offends the provisions of the Public Gambling Act, 1867 and the Delhi Public Gambling Act, 1955; and
C. issue a direction, order or writ, including a writ in the nature of mandamus against the Respondents thereby, directing them to initiate apposite penal action consistent with offences envisaged under the provisions of the Public Gambling Act, 1867 and the Delhi Public Gambling Act, 1955 against the violators/offenders; and
D. Issue a direction, order or writ, including a writ in the nature of mandamus against the Respondents thereby, directing them to formulate a policy and constitute a Gaming Commission as much in order to comprehensively regulate and redress the grievances of online players as to guard the interests of minor children and impressionable youth up to a certain age from the long shadow such engagement is well known to cast;and/orE. Pass such further and/or other order(s) as this Court deems fit and expedient in the facts and circumstances of the captioned case.
Court’s Observation in PIL Against Online gambling
The Court directed the respondents to treat this petition as a representation and decide the grievances ventilated in this petition, as narrated in detail in this writ petition.
