HC to decide validity of gambling cases in 5 districts

Madras High Court Bench here will decide validity of gambling cases registered in five cities under the Tamil Nadu Gaming Act 1930 in view of extension of Madras Police Act 1888 with similar provisions.
When a petition seeking quashing of a case registered under the act here came up before Justice G M Akbar Ali, he called for all the cases pending in Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem, Tiruchirappalli and Tirunelveli districts.
The judge issued the order after the counsel for petitioner Abudu Kumar Rajaratnam contended that the act stood repealed in respect of the five districts after the Madras Police Act was extended to these through legislations.

The gaming act was initially made applicable to all over the state except, Chennai where Madras Police Act 1888 was in force due to similarity in the two acts. It was later extended to Madurai and Coimbatore in 1987 and then to Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli and Salem in 1997.
Such extension amounted to repealing the 1930 Act in the five districts, the counsel claimed. But the Police continued to file cases under Gaming Act against alleged gamblers and courts were also taking cognizance of them, the petitioner said and sought to quash the cases.
He said Police registered cases against 41 persons under Sec 8 and 9 of the 1930 Act for allegedly gambling with playing cards in Madurai United Club last year.

Several persons, including a 79-year-old doctor, four senior advocates, two former Deputy Superintendents of Police, one retired police inspector, a civil engineer, two station Managers of Southern Railway and a chief train ticket examiner were named as accused in the case.
The accused denied the prosecution charge that the club was being used as a Gambling centre and liquor was served. They said the Police had foisted the case with the intention of closing down the club.