Can’t stay ban on online rummy, says high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has yet again said it cannot stay operation of a Tamil Nadu law banning online rummy. Refusing any relief to online gaming companies, the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Vijaykumar Gangapurwala and Justice P D Audikesavalu on Monday adjourned the cases to July 13 for final hearing.Earlier, in its counter-affidavit, TN submitted that Articles 245 and 246 of the Constitution conferred necessary powers on it to legislate such laws. “The law was enacted with respect to three subjects – public order, public health and betting and gambling – which are found in Entries 1, 6 and 34 of List II of the Constitution. It also qualifies as a law made with respect to the subject of criminal law.”Even rummy, generally considered as a game of skill, when played online, could be only classified as a game of chance and not skill, it added.