MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the dangerous online game ‘Blue Whale Challenge’ and impleaded the Union Department of Communication, State School and Social Welfare departments, Director General of Police and Madurai Superintendent of Police.
Pointing to an Express report dated September 1, Administrative Judge of Madurai Bench K K Sasidharan and his brother Judge G R Swaminathan said that police department and social activists had a definite role to play in the matter. “Those playing the game must be counselled and made to uninstall the game,” the Bench added.
The controversial online game has been garnering negative media coverage globally, and the recent suicide of a 19-year-old college student from Madurai as part of fulfilling the game’s list of challenges forced the officials to crack down on the game by launching special cells.
“The administrator is abetting suicide by manipulating the young minds and exploiting their vulnerable psychological condition,” the judges said, adding that online activities of the children remain unchecked and internet cafes across the State appear to be promoting the online game. “Time has come now to act swiftly to curb the cancerous growth of the game, the parents, police and public must rise to the occasion,” the judges said.
Stating that there was no proper mechanism to put an end to this dangerous game, with students having no access to counselling, lack of special drive to spread social awareness and crack down on internet centres promoting the game, the judges said, “We are, therefore, of the view that a constitutional court has got the responsibility to take up the issue in larger public interest.” The judges directed the Registry to list the case for hearing on September 4.