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HYC asks govt to repeal Gaming Act

Shillong, Sept 20: The HYC has asked the MDA government to repeal the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act and Rules.

The pressure group also wanted the government to stop wasting public money by removing the chairman and other members of the Gaming Commission.

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“We demand the state government should repeal the Act and Rules immediately and also to stop wasting of public money in giving salary to the Chairman and other members of Gaming Commission by immediately removing them and last but not the least the three temporary licences already issued should immediately be scrapped by putting the Notice/order in this regard in the public domain,” HYC said in a letter to the Chief Minister Conrad  Sangma.

The HYC asked the government to further strengthen the law relating to prohibition of gambling activities both online and offline in the State.”

No cabinet approval 

The HYC said the taxation department in the absence of cabinet approval has constituted the Departmental Search/Selection Committee and appointed the Chairman and Expert Member of the Gaming Commission, which is in contravention to Section 27 of the Act and Rule 14 of the Rules.

“We were also informed that till August, 2022 the process of granting of licenses was  considered by the Department under the provisions of the Act and Rules. The reply to RTI query states: “Processing as per provisions of the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021 and rules framed thereunder is ongoing,” .

However,  the HYC said as per the statement made by the chief minister on the floor of the House, since May, 2022, when had met the religious leaders, no further activities took place with regard to granting of licences for gambling activities. “But this very statement of yours is contradictory to the information provided to us by the PIO, Commissioner of Taxes… and now we are in a dilemma as to which statement is correct and whom to believe?” the HYC said in the letter to CM.

The pressure group further said it does not buy the chief minister’s statement that legalising gambling will increase the revenue generation of the state to Rs 500-600 crore annually.

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