Delhi HC asks government to justify Telegram blocking ahead of NEET re-test

The Delhi High Court has asked the Indian government to justify a temporary block on Telegram ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination, putting the Centre on the spot over the evidence and legal basis for the restriction.

Telegram has challenged the order in court after reports said the platform was blocked until June 22 and its message-editing feature was disabled until June 30. The measures were reported as temporary steps tied to concerns about exam security and the use of messaging tools to coordinate cheating.

The re-test is scheduled for June 21, making the dispute immediate for candidates, administrators and Telegram users in India during the exam window.

Court scrutiny

According to the reporting packet, the Delhi High Court sought responses from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Testing Agency. The court also asked the government to put forward proof supporting the blocking order.

One report said the Centre told the court it has material it intends to place before the bench in support of the restriction. Coverage described that material as linked to exam-cheating networks and misuse of the platform.

That material has not been independently assessed in the reports available, but it frames the government’s defence: that the platform was being used to help coordinate malpractice around the NEET re-test.

Why the restriction matters

NEET-UG is one of India’s most high-stakes national entrance exams, and security measures around it can affect a large number of students and service users. The dispute also raises a broader question about how far the state can go in restricting a digital platform before a major exam.

The core legal issue is whether the Centre can show enough evidence to justify a temporary restriction on a major communication service. The case turns on necessity, legality and proportionality, not just on the government’s stated concern that exam integrity may be at risk.

Telegram’s challenge places those questions directly before the court. The company is contesting both the need for the block and the legal basis for imposing it.

What happens next

The next hearing is expected to focus on the government’s detailed justification and supporting documents. Those filings could determine whether the temporary restriction remains in place through the June 21 re-test period.

If the court accepts the Centre’s evidence, the block may stay in force for the short term. If not, the order could be narrowed or lifted, changing access for Telegram users in India almost immediately.

The case is now a live test of how Indian courts will weigh platform restrictions against exam-security claims when the government says it has evidence of misuse.

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