Aishwarya Rathore-
Published On: September 27, 2021 at 17:07 IST
The Kerala High Court declared Online Rummy to be a “Game of skill” by quashing an Amendment issued by the Kerala Government under Section 14A of the Kerala Gaming Act, 1960, banning the practise of Online Rummy in the State.
Justice TR Ravi observed that, “The Notification was arbitrary and violative of the Right to trade and commerce guaranteed under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution and the Right to equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution.”
This comes after the State Government issued a notification on February 23, 2021, stating that Online Rummy does not enjoy exemption from the General Prohibition of Gaming and Gambling granted under Section 14A of the Kerala Gaming Act, 1960 when played for stakes.
Advocates appearing on behalf of the Petitioner argued that the State Government could not ban Rummy, which was a game of skill, through a mere notification under Section 14A of the Kerala Gaming Act, 1960.
It was further argued, “The notification, which gives the State Government power to clarify the list of skill-based games, instead of bans online rummy, thereby violating their right to trade and commerce guaranteed under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.“
The Petitioners cited the Supreme Court rulings in State of Andhra Pradesh v. K. Satyanarayana and Ors. and KR Lakshmanan v. State of Tamil Nadu and Ors., which held that Rummy is primarily a “game of skill.”
Accordingly, the Kerala High Court declared Rummy to be a “game of skill”.
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