Instant messaging platform Telegram has moved the Delhi High Court to contest the Indian government's decision to temporarily block its services nationwide. The move comes just days before the crucial NEET-UG re-examination, scheduled for June 21, 2026.
Government Cites Cheating Concerns
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued directions under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, to block access to Telegram in India until June 22, 2026. Authorities stated that the ban was necessitated by concerns that Telegram was being exploited by organized cheating networks connected to the NEET-UG controversy.
Officials argued that various Telegram channels were allegedly used to circulate leaked or fake question papers, coordinate cheating activities among students, and spread exam-related misinformation. The government's primary aim is to prevent any further compromise of the examination's integrity.
Telegram's Legal Challenge and User Impact
Advocate Madhav Khosla brought the matter before a vacation bench of Justice Tejas Karia, seeking an urgent hearing on behalf of Telegram. The court has agreed to hear the case promptly. Khosla highlighted that the temporary ban significantly impacts over 150 million Telegram users across India, disrupting communication for a vast user base.
Message Editing Feature Disabled
In addition to the service ban, the government issued a separate directive requiring Telegram to disable its message-editing feature for already posted messages until June 30, 2026. This measure was implemented due to concerns that the feature could be misused to manipulate timestamps and alter content after publication, potentially aiding in deceptive practices related to the examination.