Prohibition Against Online Gambling: Madras High Court Refuses Interim Relief To Gaming Companies, To Hear Case On July 13

The bench of Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice PD Audikesavalu noted that since the arguments for interim relief and the final relief are the same, the matter can be heard and decided in finality.

Senior Counsel Mukul Rohatgi and Senior Counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the online gaming companies, yesterday urged the court for an interim stay on the operation of the Act by submitting that the companies are suffering every day and facing threats of criminal action. They told the court that they are unable to carry on business due to the present law and have been forced to shut down in the state.

It was also argued that the State has no competence to pass the law unless it is gambling and that the Supreme Court has already held that rummy was a game of skill.

Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Tamil Nadu Government, however, informed the court that the plea regarding interim relief was already heard by a bench of then Acting Chief Justice T Raja and Justice Bharatha Chakravarthy, who refused to grant any interim stay. Thus, he urged the court to take up the pleas for final hearing.

The court thus posted the matter to July 13 for arguments by the online gaming company to which the State can reply by July 20 or any other convenient date.

Case Title: All India Gaming Federation v State and others

Case No: WP 13203 of 2023