Delhi High Court upholds temporary Telegram ban ahead of NEET-UG re-exam
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The Delhi High Court on Friday upheld the Union government's decision to temporarily block Telegram in India ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21.
Justice Tejas Karia declined to grant relief to Telegram and held that the government had followed due process before imposing the temporary ban. The court said the Centre was empowered under Section 69A to block access to the messaging platform.
The judge observed that the government's actions were proactive and represented the least restrictive measure available in the circumstances. The court said it could not be concluded that the order was disproportionate or that there had been no application of mind before the decision was taken, as alleged by Telegram.
The Union government had blocked Telegram for one week until June 22 at the request of the National Testing Agency (NTA). According to the NTA, the move was aimed at preventing organised cheating rackets from using the platform to defraud candidates appearing for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.
During proceedings on Thursday, the Centre argued that Telegram had evolved into the "new dark web", claiming its architecture and privacy features had made it a preferred platform for cybercriminals, fraud networks, extremist groups, and those involved in examination paper leaks.
The government's submissions relied on an assessment by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which described Telegram as a growing hub for illicit online activities.
Senior advocate Dhruv Mehta, appearing for Telegram, challenged the use of emergency powers and argued that the government had failed to explain why specific content could not be blocked instead of restricting access to the entire platform.
"The order says it is in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India. An examination like NEET will affect the sovereignty and integrity of India? What is the application of mind?" Mehta told the court.
The temporary ban will remain in force until June 22.