Will take penal action if found operating despite ban: Govt to 59 Chinese apps 

The govt said continued availability and operation of these 59 banned apps in India, directly or indirectly, is illegal.

The Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has written a strongly worded letter to the 59 banned Chinese apps (that includes TikTok) that they must ensure strict compliance of the government order regarding the ban on them.

The ministry told the app operators that the ban against them has been imposed in "exercise of the sovereign powers" and Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.

It said continued availability and operation of these 59 banned apps in India, directly or indirectly, is illegal. The ministry said availability of these apps, despite there being a ban, is an offence under the Information Technology Act and other applicable laws.

Penal action if ban violated

India Today TV has learnt that the government has warned operators of these 59 banned apps that they would face penal action if they continue to remain available and offer their services in India despite the ban against them.

If the app is found to be made available by the company through any means for use within India, directly or indirectly, it would be construed as a violation of the Government orders, the ministry said.

Earlier in the month, the government had sent a notice and a list of 79 questions to these banned apps. The ministry has given them three weeks to respond, failing which these apps may be permanently banned in India.

The notice states that if these banned apps do not respond by July 22, the ban imposed on them would become permanent.