Telegram challenges Centre’s temporary ban in Delhi High Court ahead of NEET-UG re-test
Messaging platform Telegram has approached the Delhi High Court against the Centre’s decision to temporarily block its services in India ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination.
The government imposed the restriction until June 22, citing concerns that the platform was being used by cheating networks and fraudsters to spread fake question papers and mislead students.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) reportedly issued the order under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act following recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Along with restricting access to Telegram, authorities also directed the platform to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30. Officials believe this feature had been misused to create false claims of paper leaks by altering old messages after examinations.
Telegram has challenged the move in court, arguing against the temporary ban and seeking legal relief.
The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of exam security after the NEET-UG controversy, with authorities aiming to prevent malpractice during the re-test scheduled for June 21.
The High Court’s decision could have wider implications for the regulation of digital platforms during national examinations.
