Bombay High Court Hears PIL to Ban Online Rummy in Maharashtra
Last Updated on October 10, 2024 by Athi Venkatesh
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking to ban online rummy in Maharashtra. The petitioner argues that apps like Junglee Rummy and Rummy Circle promote gambling, violating laws such as the Public Gambling Act, 1867, the Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887, and the Bombay Wager Act. The petition highlights the addictive nature of these platforms, leading users to financial ruin and, in some cases, suicide.
The petitioner also requested that Google cease providing servers to these apps, and noted that several celebrities, including Sachin Tendulkar, endorse these platforms, encouraging more fans to engage with them. However, the court discouraged the petitioner’s attempt to implead celebrities, calling it an unnecessary dilution of the issue.
During the hearing, the respondents—Google, Junglee Rummy, and Rummy Circle—argued that rummy is a game of skill, not chance. They pointed out that other courts in India have classified rummy as a skill-based game. The respondents asked the court to first decide on the maintainability of the petition before proceeding.
A Division Bench, led by Justices Devendra Kumar Upadhayay and M.M. Sathaye, directed the respondents to file affidavits explaining how online rummy qualifies as a skill-based game. The court also asked for a detailed response regarding the maintainability of the PIL.
The petitioner filed an Interim Application (IA) to include Tendulkar and other endorsers, but later withdrew it after the Chief Justice’s remarks. The court granted the withdrawal and focused on determining whether rummy is a game of skill or chance.
