Madhya Pradesh HC Directs State To Furnish Concrete Action Taken Report On Online Gambling & Betting Within 3 Months

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted 3 months to the State government to bring on record concrete action taken report in regard to online gambling and betting.

The Single Bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal was dealing with a case where a 26-year-old had allegedly withdrawn a sum of Rs.8,51,000/- illegally from the bank account of his maternal grandfather. He was accused of using the money to play online gambling.

The Court had directed the State to examine the scheme of online gaming and asked to suggest remedial actions, so as to save the youth from being diverted into such activities.

Government Advocate G.P. Singh submitted that the Union of India had convened a meeting of all the Home Secretaries of different States and now the matter was at the level of the Inter-State Advisory Committee to decide as to what steps are to be taken in regard to online gaming etc.

It was submitted that State is seeking six months extension.

Advocate Rajendra Prasad Gupta appeared for the accused and Assistant Solicitor General Pushpendra Yadav appeared for the Union of India.

The High Court noted that the issue had wider ramifications on the economic, physiological, and physical health of the youth of the country. Therefore, instead of six months, the Court gave three months' time to the state.

"In any case this issue having wider ramifications on the economic, physiological and physical health of youth of the country cannot wait for in inordinately long period, therefore, instead of six months time as prayed by the Principle Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh Department of Law and Legislative Affairs, three months time is granted to bring on record concrete/action taken report.", the Court held while listing the matter for November 30, 2022.

Cause Title- Sanat Kumar Jaiswal @ Sant Kumar v. State Of Madhya Pradesh

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