Calcutta High Court Asks Centre to Reply to Petition Against Online Gaming Act

The Calcutta High Court is currently reviewing a petition challenging the Online Gaming Promotion and Regulation Act-2025. The court has asked the central government to respond to the petition. The petitioner contends that the Act poses a threat to the livelihoods of numerous people. Justice BM Shyam Prasad has given the central government time to file its reply. The court has also allowed the petitioners to present in-depth arguments in support of their request to temporarily halt the implementation of the Act. The petitioners’ senior counsel stated that while the Act has been approved by the President, it has not yet been officially notified. They argued that immediate enforcement could severely impact the gaming industry. The petitioners’ counsel emphasized that the sudden closure of the industry would lead to serious consequences. They urged the government to either postpone the notification until their concerns are addressed, or at a minimum, provide a week’s notice to enable them to seek legal recourse. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central government, noted that this case marks the first time a court is assessing the legality of the law, especially considering its cross-border implications. He argued that after a law is passed by Parliament and approved by the President, the official notification is a standard part of the constitutional process. Mehta maintained that court intervention at this stage is inappropriate. The court asked the government if it intended to notify the law immediately. Mehta replied that he would inform the court after receiving instructions from the government. The hearing was then adjourned, with the court directing the central government to file its response along with the petitioners’ arguments seeking interim relief.