TelegramBan – Delhi High Court Supports Temporary Telegram Restriction Ahead of NEET Re-Test

TelegramBan – The Delhi High Court has upheld the Central government’s temporary restriction on Telegram in India, citing concerns linked to the upcoming NEET-UG re-examination and the need to prevent misuse of digital communication platforms during the examination process.

The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to interfere with the Centre’s decision to temporarily block access to Telegram across the country until June 22. The restriction was imposed ahead of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) re-examination scheduled for June 21. Telegram had approached the court seeking relief from the government’s order, arguing against the temporary suspension of its services.

Court Finds Government Action Legally Justified

While dismissing Telegram’s challenge, Justice Tejas Karia observed that the government had acted within the legal framework provided under the Information Technology Act. The court noted that authorities possessed sufficient grounds to invoke emergency powers under Section 69A, which allows the government to direct the blocking of online content or platforms under specific circumstances.

According to the court, the action taken by the Centre met the legal standard of proportionality and was narrowly tailored to address the situation at hand. The judgment stated that the temporary restriction could not be considered excessive, as it was designed to address concerns arising from an urgent and sensitive examination-related matter.

Emergency Measures Linked to NEET Re-Examination

The court also acknowledged the government’s concerns regarding the integrity of the NEET-UG re-test. Authorities had argued that certain organised groups allegedly involved in examination malpractice were using Telegram to coordinate activities connected to the wider NEET controversy.

Officials maintained that temporary restrictions were necessary to reduce the risk of further misuse of communication channels during the re-examination process. The court accepted that the reasons presented by the government justified emergency intervention in the interest of maintaining fairness and transparency in the examination.

Procedure Under Information Technology Law Followed

During the proceedings, the court examined whether the mandatory legal process under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, had been followed. After reviewing the records, it concluded that the prescribed procedure had been properly observed by the authorities.

The court further held that the blocking orders contained adequate reasoning and were not arbitrary. It rejected arguments suggesting that the government had acted without proper application of mind. The judgment also clarified that the provisions of the Information Technology Act apply to platforms such as Telegram and that there was no legal basis for excluding such services from the scope of information-related regulation.

Background of the Government’s Decision

The temporary restriction comes against the backdrop of the NEET-UG controversy, which led to the cancellation of the original examination following allegations of question paper leaks and other irregularities. In response, authorities announced a fresh examination to be conducted on June 21.

Citing concerns about potential misuse of digital platforms during the re-test period, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) directed internet service providers to block access to Telegram in India until June 22.

Additional Restrictions Imposed

Apart from limiting access to the platform, the government also instructed Telegram to disable its message-editing feature for previously posted messages until June 30. Officials said the step was intended to prevent any possible alteration of content that could be relevant to ongoing monitoring efforts.

In addition, technology companies Google and Apple were directed to remove Telegram from their respective app stores in India during the period of the temporary restriction. The measures are expected to remain in place until the dates specified in the government’s orders.