Google removes Paytm app from Play Store for policy violation
New Delhi: Google on Friday said it has removed Paytm app from the Play Store for violation of its policy on sport betting activities. Paytm will not be available for download now but there will be no impact on existing users of the app.
"The app was blocked for violation of play policies - a clarification of our policy was released earlier today ahead of the IPL tournament," Google said in an e-mailed response on Friday.
Google also said that only the app availability on Play Store is impacted and there is no impact on users. In a tweet, Paytm said Paytm Android app is temporarily unavailable on Google's Play Store for new downloads or updates.
"It will be back very soon. All your money is completely safe, and you can continue to enjoy your Paytm app as normal," it added.
Paytm is a popular app for digital transactions.
In a blog on Friday, Google said it does not allow apps facilitating sports betting and will remove such apps from the Google Play Store.
"We don't allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes, it is a violation of our policies," the blog post said.
According to the blog post, these policies are in place to protect users from potential harm.
There is often a surge in launches of such apps before major sporting tournaments like the IPL. The latest season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to start from September 19 in the United Arab Emirates.
Google said when an app violates these policies, it notifies the developer of the violation and removes the app from Google Play until the developer brings the app into compliance.
"And in the case where there are repeated policy violations, we may take more serious action which may include terminating Google Play Developer accounts. Our policies are applied and enforced on all developers consistently," the blog post by Android Security and Privacy Vice President Product Suzanne Frey said.
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SC refuses to consider listing of plea seeking abolition of collegium system
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday refused to consider listing of a plea seeking abolition of the collegium system of judges appointing judges in the higher judiciary.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the plea of lawyer Mathews Nedumpara that his writ petition seeking abolition of the collegium system has to be listed for hearing.
“I have mentioned it several times. The registry has rejected it and is not listing my petition,” the lawyer said.
“The Registrar (Listing) has said that once the Constitution bench has ruled on something, an Article 32 petition (under the Article a plea can directly be filed in the Supreme Court on grounds of infringement of fundamental rights) is not maintainable. There are other remedies against the registrar’s order,” the CJI said.
The review petition against the NJAC judgement was dismissed in the chambers, the lawyers said, adding, “This is about the credibility of the institution. The Collegium system has to go.”
“I am sorry,” the CJI said.
A five-judge Constitution bench, on October 17, 2015, had termed as unconstitutional and set aside the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act and the 99th Constitutional Amendment which had sought to give the politicians and civil society a final say in the appointment of judges to the high courts and the Supreme Court.
It had held that the independent judiciary was part of the basic structure of the Constitution.
The plea seeking review of the judgement was also dismissed.
The National Democratic Alliance government had passed the NJAC Bill to remove the collegium system, where a group of judges decided who would be judges in the Supreme Court and high courts.
The NJAC had proposed a body comprising six members — CJI, two senior most judges of the Supreme Court, Union minister of law and justice, and two eminent persons.
