Delhi HC gave MeitY four weeks to decide on blocking the anti-gambling app Gamban. MeitY blocked the nine-year-old UK-based app, which helps gambling addicts, without notice in February 2023, mistaking it for a gambling service. The court's directive forces MeitY to finally follow its own 2009 Blocking Rules after years of delay.
How We Got Here
Gamban's website and app became inaccessible in India on February 7, 2023, after MeitY issued Section 69A blocking orders against various gambling apps. Gamban, which offers no gambling services, claims it wrote to MeitY five times since then, with its first response from the ministry arriving in May 2025.
The Numbers
- MeitY's May 2025 email to Gamban cited concerns about user data privacy and the app's 'super app' access to banking details.
- MeitY also asked Gamban to undergo a security audit by a government-approved agency, without providing a copy of the initial blocking order.
- Gamban filed its writ petition on July 9, 2026, after MeitY failed to act on its detailed representation submitted in April 2026.
- Justice Amit Mahajan declined to grant MeitY further time, stating the Ministry must decide independently of I4C’s response.
What Happens Next
🇮🇳 Why This Matters for India
For tech founders in Bengaluru building apps with sensitive data access, this case highlights the murky procedural risks of Section 69A blocking orders without due process.
The Take
This ruling exposes MeitY's casual, opaque approach to website blocking under Section 69A, often sidestepping its own 2009 procedural rules. Expect more startups to challenge arbitrary blocking orders, pushing for greater transparency and adherence to due process in future cases.
Source:
MediaNama ↗