The legal dispute over the temporary Telegram ban has now reached the Delhi High Court. This development comes just ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-exam scheduled on June 21.
Meanwhile, Telegram has formally challenged the government’s decision in court proceedings. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday before Justice Tejas Karia’s bench.
Government Restriction and Reason Behind the Ban
The central government imposed a temporary restriction on Telegram until June 22. This decision followed a recommendation from the National Testing Agency. Additionally, the restriction remains active through the NEET-UG re-exam period.
Authorities stated the move targets cheating, fake paper leaks, and online fraud.
Furthermore, the government issued the order under IT Act Section 69A.
MeitY implemented the directive after inputs from NTA and higher education authorities.
Court Proceedings and Telegram’s Challenge
Telegram filed a petition challenging the government’s restriction order. The company argues that the temporary ban remains unjustified.
Consequently, the matter reached Justice Tejas Karia’s courtroom for urgent listing. The court agreed to hear the case on Wednesday.
Why Authorities Took Strict Action
According to NTA, social media spread fake paper leak claims rapidly. However, the agency clarified that no real paper leak occurred.
Instead, fraud networks allegedly targeted students and parents through fake channels.
Channels like “PAPER LEAKED NEET” and “Re-NEET 2026” demanded large payments. Moreover, groups used fake claims to mislead students with false promises. Authorities stated these actions created fear and confusion among candidates.
Tough Measures and Platform-Level Restrictions
Earlier, agencies attempted removing several Telegram groups and channels. However, officials reported limited success despite coordinated cyber actions. Therefore, authorities imposed a temporary platform-level restriction as a last step.
Additionally, the government restricted Telegram’s message edit feature until June 30. Investigators stated edited messages helped create fake evidence of leaks.
Consequently, old posts were altered to falsely show prior paper leaks.
NEET-UG Re-Exam Background and Assurance
The NEET-UG exam conducted on May 3 was cancelled due to irregularities. Afterward, authorities scheduled the re-exam for June 21.
NTA Director General Abhishek Singh assured strict fairness in the process. He stated no irregularities would be allowed during the examination.
