Madras High Court issues orders to Tamil Nadu, central government & brand endorsers in PIL against online gaming

Madras High Court issues orders to Tamil Nadu, central government & brand endorsers in PIL against online gaming

Saurav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar also served notices

Madras High Court

NEW DELHI: Acting on a PIL against the ill-effects of online gaming filed by an advocate Mohammed Rizvi, the Madras High Court has issued notices to Cricket team captain, Virat Kohli, President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Saurav Ganguly and the Central and Tamil Nadu governments. 

The TN government, represented by AAG Sricharan Rangarajan, has asked for 10-days time to file a response. The case has thus been adjourned to 19 November.

The court also voiced concern that lives have been lost due to online games and the lack of law governing such issues in Tamil Nadu.

The PIL also names Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and celebrity endorsers such as actors Prakash Raj, Tamannah Bhatia, Rana Daggubati and Sudeep as respondents.

In his petition, Razvi had risen serious concerns about gaming addiction and social stigma. He cited instances of children who have died by suicide on account of playing online games similar to the Blue What challenge and after losing in PUBG to state exposure to online gaming introduces the kids to a world of crime and negative thinking,

Other instances where people have died because they have lost money while playing Online Rummy and online gambling were also highlighted by him.