Delhi High Court upholds Telegram block ahead of NEET re-exam

The Delhi High Court has upheld the Centre’s temporary block on Telegram ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, according to reporting on Friday, reversing the earlier stage of proceedings in which the court had only reserved its verdict.

The reported order keeps the restriction in place through the critical exam window. The block was said to run until June 22, while the NEET-UG re-exam is scheduled for June 21.

Court action

On June 18, the High Court had questioned the government’s move and reserved judgment on Telegram’s challenge. The court reportedly asked how the rights of about 150 million users could be curtailed because some people might misuse the platform.

By June 19, reporting said the court had upheld the suspension. The reported outcome leaves Telegram blocked during the re-examination period, which authorities have treated as a high-risk window for leaked papers and coordinated fraud.

The case has become a test of how far the government can go in temporarily limiting a widely used messaging service to protect exam integrity.

Why the Centre acted

The Centre told the court the block was needed to stop the alleged circulation of leaked question papers and other exam-related malpractice. Officials argued that Telegram’s features and architecture made it difficult to trace users and that the platform was being used for bulk dissemination and fraud.

According to the reporting, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology invoked Section 69A of the Information Technology Act on the recommendation of the National Testing Agency.

That backdrop includes a wider NEET-UG 2026 controversy. The May 3 exam was cancelled after allegations of a paper leak and other irregularities, and the Central Bureau of Investigation was reported to be investigating the broader matter.

Telegram’s objection

Telegram argued in court that the restriction was unlawful and overbroad, and that it affected millions of users who were not involved in any exam-related wrongdoing. Its challenge focused on the claim that a platform-wide block went further than necessary to address alleged misuse.

The reporting also reflected a proportionality debate in court. The Centre said the measure was a necessary emergency step, while Telegram said the restriction could not be justified against such a large user base.

What happens next

The immediate focus is the June 21 re-examination and the June 22 expiry date reported for the block. The NTA has separately tried to steer candidates toward official channels, launching a verified WhatsApp alert service on June 19 and warning aspirants against fake messages.

A written order could still add detail to the court’s reasoning, and Telegram may seek further relief or appeal. For now, the reported ruling allows the Centre’s suspension to stand through the exam period, sharpening the broader debate over digital blocking powers, user rights and exam security.