The Madhya Pradesh High Court has sought an affidavit from the Principal Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary (Home) be filed in this regard enclosing a copy of the draft prepared by the so called committee of the Senior Secretaries to regulate online gambling, etc.
Let an affidavit of the Principal Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary
(Home) be filed in this regard enclosing a copy of the draft prepared by the so called committee of the Senior Secretaries of the State and whether any
comments were sought on that proposed draft and when it is proposed to be placed before the State Assembly for discussion and voting, the court order of March 13, 2023 said.
The State has neither filed copy of the draft prepared by the committee
of Senior Secretaries of the State nor any material to show as to when that draft was presented to the Legislative Assembly for discussion and they have also not produced any copy of agenda note of the Assembly to show that bill is to be taken up for consideration of the house on a particular date, the court order said.
The court heard the application filed by the state government on 4/02/2023 seeking recall of the order dated 30/11/2022 whereby this court had given three months time on request of Shiv Kumar Shrivastava, learned Government Advocate to prepare appropriate legislation and get it clear from the Legislative Assembly.
This time was granted on the request of learned Government Advocate
who had committed that a committee of Senior Secretaries of the State was
constituted to do the needful, the court order said.
List this case on 21st March, 2023 failing which this court may be constrained to order for personal presence of the Principal Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary (Home), the court order said.
As per Entry 34 List II of Schedule VII to the Constitution of India, Gambling and betting is a State subject, therefore, State Government is required to file its version and take appropriate steps to prevent unethical practices, the Union government counsel submitted in hearing in past.
