NEET-UG re-exam: Delhi HC dismisses Telegram’s appeal against interim ban

The Delhi High Court upheld the government’s decision to temporarily ban Telegram. File | Photo credit: Reuters

The Delhi High Court on Friday (June 19, 2026) refused to grant relief to Telegram and upheld the government’s decision to issue an interim ban in view of the NEET-UG review on June 21, 2026. The court said the Center followed all norms and due process, adding that the government is empowered to block Telegram under Section 69A.

Justice Tejas Karia observed that the government’s proactive measures were the least restrictive, adding that the order could not be said to be unreasonable or that no intention was exercised before the order of temporary injunction was taken, as alleged by the petitioner.

At the request of the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Union government has decided to block messaging app Telegram in India for a week until Monday (June 22, 2026), following what the NTA described as “a response to the organized use of the platform by fraud rackets to cheat candidates appearing in the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21, 2026.”

The Union government on Thursday (Jun 18, 2026) submitted to the Delhi High Court that messaging platform Telegram has evolved into the “new dark web”, arguing that its architecture and privacy features have made it a preferred tool for cybercriminals, fraud networks, extremist and terrorist groups and operators involved in document leaks.

The government’s submissions relied heavily on an assessment by India’s Cybercrime Coordination Center (I4C) that the platform was a growing hub for illegal online activities.

Senior advocate Dhruv Mehta, appearing for Telegram, said the government had failed to justify the use of emergency powers and failed to show why specific content could not be blocked rather than banning access to the entire platform.

“The order says it is in the interest of India’s sovereignty and integrity. Will an exam like NEET affect India’s sovereignty and integrity? What is the application of the mind?” he said.

Published – 19 Jun 2026 11:03 IST