Delhi High Court upholds temporary Telegram ban amid NEET Exam fraud concerns

The Delhi High Court has upheld the Centre’s temporary restrictions on Telegram, backing the government’s decision to curb the platform’s use in facilitating examination-related fraud and paper leak activities ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.

During the hearing, the government argued that Telegram had been widely used by organised networks to circulate leaked examination papers, answer keys and other materials linked to cheating rackets. Officials maintained that the temporary restriction was necessary to protect the integrity of the examination process.

The court observed that the restriction was a limited and precautionary measure taken in the larger public interest, particularly in view of concerns surrounding examination security and the credibility of national-level entrance tests.

Telegram had challenged the move, contending that the ban affected millions of legitimate users and disrupted communication services. However, the court declined to grant immediate relief, allowing the temporary restrictions to remain in place.

The development comes days before the nationwide NEET-UG re-examination, with authorities intensifying efforts to prevent malpractice and ensure a fair testing environment for candidates.

Officials have reiterated that the restrictions are temporary and linked specifically to concerns over examination fraud, while broader issues relating to digital platform regulation may be examined separately.