New Delhi: Perhaps as a direct consequence of a resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday, state governor R.N. Ravi gave his assent to a Bill which seeks to ban online gambling and regulate online games, which had been pending before him for 131 days.In the resolution, the assembly had criticised the governor for keeping Bills on hold endlessly by failing to assent to him. It had also urged the Union government to create a “specific time limit” for for “Governors to give assent to Bills passed by the Legislatures”.“This august House records with deep regret the action of the Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu in indefinitely withholding many Bills without giving permission, passed by the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu — on the basis of its sovereignty and the legislative responsibilities enshrined in the Constitution of India — thereby functioning against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu,” the resolution moved by chief minister M.K. Stalin said, according to The Indian Express.“Therefore, this august House urges the Union Government and the Hon’ble President to prescribe a specific time limit to the respective Governors to give assent to the Bills passed by the Legislatures, which are the voice of the people of the State,” it continued.“The Union Government and the President should immediately issue appropriate instructions to the Governor to (grant) assent to the Bills passed by this Assembly within a specific period,” the resolution urged.“The Governor indefinitely withholding bills is against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu. His controversial comments belittle the dignity of the house and undermine the legislature’s supremacy in parliamentary democracy,” Stalin said, according to NDTV.Hours after this resolution was passed, Ravi gave his assent to the re-adopted Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill, 2022. Stalin celebrated this, saying that it was a “good consequence” of the resolution passed by the assembly, The Hindu reported.On March 6, the governor had returned this Bill to the assembly, saying it was ultra vires the Constitution and against court judgments. However, the Stalin government has repeatedly held that online gambling and unregulated games are leading to deaths by suicide and serious mental health concerns, as people are losing their savings.“The Bill was drafted not only with our intelligence but also with our heart. We may have political differences, which is natural. But anyone with a heart will not have two views on banning online gambling, which has been claiming lives. The State should not hear the cry of a person or a family. If it happens again it will amount to dilution of the meaning of law and the powers of the state. It is the duty of the government to maintain law and order and prevent crimes,” Stalin had said while reintroducing the Bill on March 23.The Bill was framed based on the recommendations by a specially constituted committee under former judge Justice K. Chandru.
