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Online lotteries: VS poser to Government

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 7. The Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, today sought to know why the Government had failed to come out with an Ordinance banning operation of online lotteries in the State if it was as sincere in checking online lotteries as claimed by the Finance Minister, K. Sankaranarayanan.

He said in a statement here that the High Court Division Bench's observation on this was proof that the Court also saw merit in his contention that the Government was shielding online lottery operators. Although the Finance Minister has defended the Government's handling of the online lottery cases, there was no explanation why the hearing in the related cases in the High Court was postponed 16 times after January 20. Even while staying the operation of the Government Order banning online lotteries in the State, the High Court had made it clear that the Government was free to collect tax from the lottery operators and carry on prosecution measures against them.

But the Advocate General did not inform the Government about this order. Nor did the Government inquire with the AG what instructions the Court had issued. The Finance Minister was also silent on the allegation that even as the Advocate General was arguing the Government's case in the High Court, his private office was handing 18 cases for online lottery operators.

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