File detailed reply to plea over online betting apps, Centre told

The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre on a petition seeking a nationwide ban on online gambling and betting platforms allegedly operating under the guise of social and e-sports games.

Asking the Centre to file a “comprehensive reply” to the petition of the Centre for Accountability Systemic Change (CASC) & another, a Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice KV Viswanathan posted the matter for hearing on November 26.

Alleging that there was a large number of betting and gambling apps operating online, the petitioners’ counsel Virag Gupta urged the top court to direct the government to take immediate measures in larger public interest as the issue adversely affected the youth in particular.

“We want the Additional Solicitor General appearing for the Centre to file a comprehensive reply to the main petition itself," the Bench said after it was informed that the Centre had already filed its reply to the interim prayer of the petitioners.

The petitioners wanted the top court to direct the Centre to take action and issue blocking orders under section 69A of the Information Technology Act against all unlawful betting and gambling platforms in India.

They also wanted a direction to the RBI, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and other UPI platforms to not allow any transactions of online money games’ which are not registered in India.

The petitioners demanded that the government agencies should invoke stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 to curb the menace of online gambling and betting.

The PIL has also sought directions to Google and Apple to strictly comply with the Information Technology (Intermediary) Rules, 2021 and allow only duly licensed gaming apps on their platforms, recover GST and income tax from offshore gaming companies through the ED and CBI with the assistance of Interpol, and protect children's data collected by online gaming companies.

Centre’s counsel VC Bharathi pointed out that the reliefs sought by the petitioners were squarely covered by the new legislation relating to online gaming which has yet to come into force.