A 22-year-old man ended his life in his house, near Coimbatore, after losing a lot of money playing online rummy.
One more life taken in TN as governor delays assent on bill banning online card games. (Creative Commons)
A 22-year-old Tamil Nadu man died allegedly by suicide after losing a lot of money playing rummy online.
He ended his life in his house, near Coimbatore, police said on Friday, 9 December.
According to the police, the man, working in a private firm, developed the habit of playing the game over the last few months and borrowed money from friends to continue playing.
When he started losing money, he became upset and hanged himself, the police said, adding that his parents found him dead on Thursday.
Online games and gambling have been a concern in Tamil Nadu, having led to suicides caused by addiction to them.
Expressing serious concern, the Tamil Nadu government promulgated an ordinance and passed a bill in the Assembly to prohibit online gambling and regulate online games.
A four-member committee headed by retired Madras High Court judge K Chandru was constituted by the Tamil Nadu government to study the adverse impacts of games like online rummy in the state.
The committee, in its report submitted on 27 June, recommended that the state bring in legislation for a total ban on online card games, including the game of rummy, immediately.
One of the main reasons Tamil Nadu enacted such a law for the second time — after a similar law was struck down by the Madras High Court in August 2021 — is at least 25 people have died by suicide so far in the state after losing money to online gambling and other online games.
The state promulgated an ordinance to prohibit online gambling and to regulate online games in the state after the state Cabinet, on 26 September approved the draft ordinance based on the report.
The bill regarding the same was passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly on 19 October in order to replace the ordinance promulgated to the same effect by the Governor on 3 October.
Tamil Nadu Governor TN Ravi promulgated the ordinance immediately after it was sent to him by the Law Department.
However, he did not grant assent to the bill as he raised certain doubts over the piece of legislation.
Despite the Tamil Nadu government providing clarifications within 24 hours of receiving the Governor’s letter with his queries on 25 November, the bill is still under his consideration.
The DMK is raising its voice against the Governor. As per the norms, an ordinance would cease to operate after a lapse of six weeks from the date of commencement of the last Assembly session.
In the current case, the Assembly session began on 17 October and the ordinance lapsed on 27 November, the last day of the six-week period.
Law Minister S Reghupathy and senior officials from the government called on the Governor at the Raj Bhavan requesting him to give assent to the bill immediately as the ordinance had lapsed.
Opposition parties including the Congress are conducting statewide protests against the Governor.
A Massive Protest Done By @NanjilBharath Today (2-12-2022) In Behalf Of @nsui Nagercoil Corporation District Against BJP Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi To Ban Online Rummy… pic.twitter.com/4aFG4ehOqr
— NSUI Tamil Nadu (@NSUITamilNadu) December 2, 2022
Even after the tussle between the government, other political parties, and the governor regarding the bill, there are reports that the Governor held a meeting with the representatives of the e-gaming federation on 5 December.
Details regarding the meeting and the Governor’s decision regarding granting assent to the bill are still unknown.
(With inputs from PTI)
May 18, 2024
May 18, 2024
May 18, 2024
May 18, 2024
May 16, 2024
May 16, 2024
