Centre seeks Supreme Court transfer of online gaming law challenges
New Delhi: The Central government has moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of three petitions challenging the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, currently pending before the High Courts of Delhi, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh. The matter was mentioned before CJI BR Gavai, who agreed to list the case next week.
The government argues that all three petitions raise similar constitutional questions regarding the legality of the Act, and that separate proceedings could lead to inconsistent rulings. It has also sought a stay on the High Court cases to avoid delay and ensure uniformity in judicial decisions.
The Act, passed immediately in August 2025, prohibits real money online games, including games of skill like fantasy sports and online carrom, and makes violations cognisable and non-bailable. It has been challenged on the grounds that it violates Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution, and intrudes upon the states' legislative domain.
Petitions have been filed by online gaming platforms and companies, including Head Digital, across various High Courts. The Supreme Court’s decision on the transfer plea will determine whether the constitutional validity of the law will be heard centrally.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
