Kerala HC gives government 4 weeks to respond to BitChat blocking challenge

The Kerala High Court has ordered the Indian government to respond within four weeks to a petition challenging the blocking of BitChat in India. The petitioner, the Kerala-based Appropriate Technology Promotion Society, seeks disclosure and quashing of the blocking order, citing violations of free speech and the 2009 IT blocking rules.

• Kerala HC gives government 4 weeks to respond to BitChat blocking petition
• Petition seeks disclosure and quashing of the blocking order
• It cites violations of free speech and the 2009 IT blocking rules
• BitChat was removed from App Store and Google Play, with earlier curbs in July 2026