PIL Against Online Gambling Filed in Delhi HC

by Manthra Koliyer Posted on 28 Nov, 2020

A PIL has been moved in the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to the Centre to take steps to ban websites that are involved in gambling, betting and wagering. There have been several such PILs filed in the court at Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi etc. Those PILs were directed at imposing a ban on online gambling. 

Recently, a plea has been contended that though there are existing laws by various states prohibiting such activities, a large number of websites are still accessible and are actively being used across India. These websites and applications let gambling, betting and wagering games to thrive despite being banned by the law. The plea filed by Avinash Mehrora said, “It is submitted that all these activities, though expressly prohibited by law, are being carried out because of a lack of enforcement of the laws in question.”

His PIL alleged that, “In fact, it is submitted that Foreign Exchange laws, as well as Income Tax laws, are also likely being violated today by the online gambling websites.”

Mehrora had last year moved a similar petition which was eventually disposed off from the court with a direction to the Centre to treat it as a representation and take a decision according to the law. Mehrora was also informed by the central government that his plea did not have the legislative competence to deal with his representation to ban or block websites. 

Other than a ban on these websites, Mehrora’s plea has sought recovery of taxes due from players and those who operate them. He has also sought a direction to the Centre to “prosecute the unscrupulous owners/proprietors, and the proprietors, and the promoters of the online gambling websites, in accordance with law. He further added, “a great place for carrying out hawala operations, laundering money, etc”

To know more about the PIL and the decisions taken by Delhi HC, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com!

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