The Delhi High Court on Friday declined to grant relief to Telegram, upholding the government’s decision to temporarily ban the messaging app in view of the NEET-UG re-examination on June 21, 2026. The court stated that the centre followed all norms and due process, adding that the government is empowered under Section 69A to block Telegram.
Justice Tejas Karia noted that the government’s proactive measures are least restrictive, and it cannot be held that the order is disproportionate or that there was no application of mind before taking the temporary ban decision, as alleged by the petitioner.
The Union government decided to block Telegram in India for a week until Monday (June 22, 2026), following the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) request. The NTA described this as a response to the organised use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates appearing for the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination.
The Union government submitted before the Delhi High Court that 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 terror groups, and operators involved in examination paper leaks.
The government’s submissions relied heavily on an Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) assessment that the platform is a growing hub for illicit online activity.
Senior advocate Dhruv Mehta, appearing for Telegram, argued that the government had failed to justify the use of emergency powers and had not demonstrated why specific content could not be blocked, instead of disabling 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?’ he said.
