Dangerous Online Games banned by Supreme Court

After the deadly Blue Whale Challenge that has allegedly sparked a spate of suicides across the country, many more twisted online games that goad vulnerable teens into killing themselves could face a ban in India.

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the view of the Centre on a public interest litigation filed by lawyer Sneha Kalita who drew its attention to several other such perverse pastimes like Choking Game, Salt and Ice Challenge, Fire Challenge, Cutting Challenge, Eyeball Challenge and Human Embroidery. Kalita argued that these games too have the potential to cause fatalities or serious damage to the life and psyche of youth and said it was the "responsibility of all the stakeholders to curb this menace and prevent its further spreading like cyber virus amongst the teenagers just like the Blue Whale Challenge".

Experts say the expansion of internet



connectivity and social media has created new opportunities for entering into suicide pacts, with "curators" cajoling teens into risky behavior.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra tagged the petition along with another one pending in the SC, seeking a court-monitored complete ban on the Blue Whale challenge which has allegedly claimed several lives in the country. Seeking the Centre's view, the court asked if the government had any plan to set up an expert committee to deal with such games which have created a crisis situation within the children and youth community.

The apex court has sought the assistance of attorney general KK Venugopal in the matter. Indicating it is likely to issue some significant orders, the bench also stopped the Delhi High Court from hearing any similar petitions. A plea seeking the complete ban on the Blue Whale game is pending before the HC.