Here’s why the ban against the 59 Chinese apps may not be lifted any time soon

If you thought TikTok and the 58 other banned Chinese apps will return in a few weeks, think again. The Indian government has filed a caveat at Rajasthan High Court against the Chinese companies who own the 59 apps recently banned in the country. Reuters reported that the government has also stopped these apps from obtaining an injunction to block the ban order.

The caveat being filed is suggestive of the fact that the government expects one or more of these companies to challenge the ban imposed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

We spoke to some lawyers to understand what this move means in a legal process and here are some points - 

- A caveat essentially means that if a company approaches the court (the Rajasthan High Court in this case) to file a case against the app ban, the government will have to be informed and no hearing can take place without both parties being present.

“Let nothing be done till the applicants (government) are heard in the matter,” said the court filing signed by Additional Solicitor General of India Rajdeepak Rastogi, according to the Reuters report.

A caveat ensures that any case filed is presented to both parties in question and both are informed beforehand of the hearing date so as appropriate legal representation can be made in court, lawyers explained.

- A caveat of this sort can be filed for any case, it’s not specific to this case or the government.

Such caveats are usually filed to prevent a ruling in favour of companies without hearing the government in this case.

- These companies/apps can still approach the court to file a case against the order. However, now thanks to the caveat filed, if the case is filed at Rajasthan High Court, the court will have to make sure that government representatives are present for the hearings.

- The Indian government might file similar caveats in other courts in the country as well.

What all of this adds up to is the fact that the ban against these 59 Chinese apps is not going to be lifted any time soon.