The Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming (Repeal) Bill, 2023 was introduced in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Tabling his statement of objects and reasons, Minister in-charge Taxation department Abu Taher Mondal said the legislature of the state of Meghalaya has enacted the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming Act, 2021 which was notified and published on March 26, 2021 in the official gazette.
However, after due deliberations, the government of Meghalaya has taken steps to repeal this Act.
Since the house was not in session, the Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming (Repeal) Ordinance, 2022 was promulgated by the Governor of Meghalaya on December 31, 2022 and published in the gazette on January 3, 2023 to repeal the Gaming Act.
“Now that the House is in session, the Ordinance promulgated by the Governor has to laid before the Legislative Assembly of the state in the form of a Bill as required under Article 213 (2) (a) of the Constitution of India. Therefore, it is proposed to replace the above said Ordinance by a Bill namely, ‘The Meghalaya Regulation of Gaming (Repeal) Bill, 2023,” Mondal said.
It may be mentioned that the decision to repeal the Act was taken after stiff opposition was registered from several quarters of society including church leaders and NGOs.