Kochi: The High Court on Monday lifted state's ban of online rummy. The court observed that online rummy did not fall within the ambit of gambling and further that the ban was violative of the right to trade and commerce under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution and Article 14 guaranteeing right to equality.
The state ban came into force vide government notification dated 23rd February 2021, after the government assessed it did not qualify for exemption under Section 14 A of the Kerala Gaming Act. The ban applied to online rummy games involving money. In its argument before the court, the state government cited rising number of suicides related to gambling online. Led by lure of quick buck, large sums of money are put and lost on the table, said government.
The court ruled that online rummy was outside the purview of gambling currently. Earlier, the Madras High Court too had quashed Tamil Nadu government ban on online betting games in the state. The Madras ruling hinged to the point that online games fell outside the jurisdiction of state.
