As per the plea, these apps are addictive and have resulted in financial losses to many users, pushing some to the point of suicide.
A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed before the Bombay High Court seeking a ban on online gambling platforms Junglee Rummy and Rummy Circle.
The petition filed by a Solapur based social worker, Ganesh Ranu Nanaware, has asked the court to direct the State of Maharashtra to take immediate action against these apps since they are causing severe social harm, particularly among the youth.
According to the petition, Nanaware had previously sent representations to various high-level offices including the President of India, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, urging them to ban the two apps.
Despite the same, no action was taken by the authorities, prompting Nanaware to approach the court.
As per the plea, these apps are addictive and have resulted in financial losses to many users, pushing some to the point of suicide.
“Youngsters are losing their money by playing rummy through these apps, and they are doing suicides,” the petition states.
The petition argues that these apps operate illegally under several laws, including the Public Gambling Act of 1867, the Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act of 1887 and the Information Technology Act of 2000.
It also contends that the platforms violate the Indian Penal Code by promoting gambling, which is considered a game of chance and thus illegal in many parts of India.
The petition refers to a response received from the State of Maharashtra under the Right to Information Act, confirming that no permissions have been granted for such online gambling activities.
The petitioner has also highlighted the role of celebrities in promoting these apps, stating that their endorsements have contributed to the platforms’ popularity and the ensuing social damage.
Legal notices were sent to Google India Pvt. Ltd., the provider of servers for these apps, asking them to cease hosting the gambling platforms.