Madras High Court lifts ban on TikTok video app
Chinese app TikTok
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday lifted the ban on TikTok video application.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court of India told Chinese company Bytedance Technology, the maker of hugely popular video-sharing app TikTok, that if Madras the High Court fails to decide by April 24 its plea for relief, then its ban order will stand vacated.
The company had told the court that the Madras High Court gave the order banning the app in India without hearing its side of the story. It also said that the ban has led to a loss of crores of rupees.
The Supreme Court bench then said the next date of hearing is April 24, and if the high court doesn't decide on the plea against the ban, the order will stand vacated.
Google had last week blocked access to TikTok on its Play Store in India. The decision was taken hours after the Madras High Court refused a request by Bytedance Technology to suspend a ban on TikTok, putting its future in one of its key markets in doubt.
The Madras High Court had on April 3 asked the central government to ban TikTok, saying it encouraged pornography and made child users vulnerable to sexual predators. It's ruling came after an individual launched public interest litigation calling for a ban.
The Centre had sent a letter to Apple and Google to abide by the state court's order.