Allahabad HC Issues Notice in PIL Seeking Ban on Roblox Access for Minors
A practicing lawyer has filed a PIL before the Allahabad High Court's Lucknow Bench seeking a ban on Roblox and similar gaming platforms for minors, alongside a high-level expert committee. The Division Bench has issued notice to several respondents.
The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has issued notice in a public interest litigation filed by a practicing lawyer of the Court, seeking directions against the Union Government and several State and regulatory authorities to ban access to the online gaming platform Roblox — and other similar platforms — for minors. A Division Bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla heard the matter on 8 July 2026 and directed notice to be issued to several respondents, returnable at an early date.
The Dispute Before the Court
The petitioner, Rani Singh, filed PIL No. 608 of 2026 in person before the Lucknow Bench. The petition names the Union of India through the Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), New Delhi, as the primary respondent, along with 14 others.
At the core of the petition are concerns about the psychological, behavioural, and safety risks that online gaming platforms, particularly Roblox, pose to children. The petitioner argues that access to such platforms by minors requires urgent regulatory intervention at the Central Government level.
Reliefs Sought
The petition asks the Court to issue three sets of mandamus directions. The first seeks a direction to Respondents 1, 2, 12, and 13 to ban minors from accessing Roblox and other similar platforms. The second asks Respondents 1 through 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13 to constitute a high-level committee comprising child psychologists, cyber experts, AI moderators, and law enforcement authorities to assess risks and recommend immediate protective measures.
The third direction is aimed at Respondents 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11, asking them to conduct mandatory and periodic workshops, seminars, and awareness drives in schools and educational institutions. These are intended to sensitise children, teachers, and parents about the potential risks associated with online gaming platforms, including Roblox.
Representation and Notice
At the time of the first hearing, Respondent Nos. 7, 8, 10, and 11 were represented by learned C.S.C. (Central Standing Counsel or State Counsel, as the case may be), while Respondent Nos. 1 to 5 were represented by Sri Varun Pandey, Advocate.
The bench ordered that notice be issued to Respondent Nos. 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, and 15, who had not yet entered appearance, returnable at an early date.
Outcome
By its order dated 8 July 2026, the Division Bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla admitted the PIL for notice and directed service on the unrepresented respondents. The matter is listed for hearing at an early date.