PANJIM: ‘Matka’ gambling which is spreading in the State can be considered to be a major evil to society as it can lead to an addiction, the High Court of Bombay at Goa said while disposing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against matka by Kashinath Shetye.
The HC also approved a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the source of matka, which will be monitored by retired High Court Judge A P Lawande and the team will be headed by Superintendent of Police Bossuet Silva of Goa Police.
Gambling activities like matka have to be condemned, as they are illegal, the HC stated in its order. It said, “It has to be the endeavour of the State to secure a living and ensuring a decent standard of life, full of enjoyment or leisure and social and cultural opportunities. As such, betting and gambling which is not authorised by law, cannot provide such healthy atmosphere.”
The oral order, pronounced by Justice F M Reis and Justice Nutan Sardesai said that to protect the youth of the State, so as to eradicate the evil of illegal gambling, such process of investigation as proposed by the respondents (government), would go a long way to eradicate and prevent the citizens of the State, including the youth, from indulging in such activities.
Based on the HC direction, Police in 2015 registered an FIR against politicians and others. The Bench also made an effort to hand over the investigation to the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) for further probe but was dropped due to the lack of manpower in the Goa unit as informed to court.
