‘3 years have already passed, what’s the urgency now?’: Delhi HC on Gamban blocking hearing
The Delhi High Court has declined to fast-track a hearing on Gamban's petition against the Ministry of Electronics and IT's Section 69A blocking order. Gamban's website has been inaccessible in India for over three years.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
The Delhi High Court has listed the matter for September 30, 2026, after MeitY sought time to submit their response. Gamban's counsel argued that three years had passed without any decision, and asked the court to place that on record.
Gamban is a UK-based app that helps people recovering from gambling addiction by blocking their access to betting, casino, and online money-gaming apps and websites. The app has been inaccessible in India for over three years due to a blocking order issued by the Ministry of Electronics and IT. The Delhi High Court has listed the matter for September 30, 2026, after MeitY sought time to submit their response.
Analysis
A Delayed Response
The Delhi High Court's decision to list the matter for September 30, 2026, has raised concerns about the delay in the Ministry of Electronics and IT's response to Gamban's petition. Gamban's counsel argued that three years had passed without any decision, and asked the court to place that on record. The court's decision to reject Gamban's request for an earlier hearing in August has sparked debate about the urgency of the matter.
MeitY's Objections
MeitY's counsel pushed back on Gamban's narrative, telling the court that Gamban itself had taken over a year to respond to the Ministry's communications and was now 'pressing for urgency.' She referred to a letter in which MeitY had asked Gamban to explain why it should have access to certain financial disclosures, and said Gamban took a year to reply. She cited a May 5, 2025 email to Gamban stating that its request for unblocking had been 'forwarded to the Concerned Nodal Agency for further examination' and that the Ministry would revert 'shortly.'
The Blocking Order
The blocking order issued by MeitY under Section 69A of the IT Act targeted a batch of gambling applications, including Gamban's. Gamban claims it was swept up in that action by mistake. Despite writing to MeitY five times since 2023, Gamban says it received its first substantive response only on May 6, 2025, over three years after the block. The response had the following allegations: concerns regarding user data privacy, especially for Android users, the app functioned as a super app on the device, monitoring browser searches and history while also accessing other apps, including sensitive banking and financial apps. Users might see an increase in gambling-related advertisements if they don't continue their subscription. MeitY also asked Gamban to undergo a security audit by a government-approved agency, without sharing a copy of the actual blocking order.
Key points
- Gamban's website has been inaccessible in India for over three years due to a blocking order issued by the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
- The Delhi High Court has listed the matter for September 30, 2026, after MeitY sought time to submit their response.
- Gamban's counsel argued that three years had passed without any decision, and asked the court to place that on record.
- MeitY's counsel pushed back on Gamban's narrative, telling the court that Gamban itself had taken over a year to respond to the Ministry's communications and was now 'pressing for urgency.'
The Delhi High Court's decision to list the matter for September 30, 2026, may provide Gamban with an opportunity to present its case and challenge the blocking order. If the court rules in Gamban's favor, it may lead to the unblocking of the app and the restoration of access to its website and app in India.
The delay in the Ministry of Electronics and IT's response to Gamban's petition may indicate a lack of urgency in addressing the issue. If the court does not rule in Gamban's favor, it may lead to the continued blocking of the app and the denial of access to its website and app in India.
