Delhi High Court Orders Continuation of Temporary Ban on Telegram in Connection with NEET Paper Leak Controversy

The Delhi High Court has rejected Telegram's petition challenging the government's temporary ban imposed following alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, meaning the messaging app will remain blocked until June 22.

Delhi High Court Delivers Key Ruling
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Telegram challenging the temporary ban imposed by the central government, which stemmed from alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. Justice Tejas Kariya upheld the order issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, thereby ensuring that the messaging platform remains blocked until June 22. Telegram had sought relief from this order in court, but its plea was unsuccessful.

Rationale Behind the Ban on Telegram
The temporary restriction was put in place following recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA). Allegations surfaced that the Telegram platform was being exploited for paper leaks, the dissemination of fake question papers, the operation of fraudulent networks, and the spread of misinformation. In response to these serious concerns, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued an order under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000, restricting access to Telegram until June 22. Furthermore, the directive also included instructions to disable the app's message editing feature until June 30.

Telegram's Arguments Against the Ban
In its petition to the court, Telegram contended that the ban was entirely unnecessary and adversely affecting over 15 crore Indian users. The company argued that blocking the entire platform was disproportionate and constituted an unwarranted measure. However, the Delhi High Court did not accept Telegram's arguments, finding the government's order to be justified.

Understanding the NEET Paper Leak Controversy
The NEET-UG 2026 examination was conducted on May 3, 2026, for more than 23 lakh students across the country. Shortly after the exam, reports of widespread paper leaks emerged from various locations. Investigations revealed that 120-140 questions in Chemistry and Biology sections were identical to the actual question paper. Due to these irregularities, the NTA cancelled the examination on May 12 and subsequently announced a re-examination for June 21. A CBI investigation uncovered the involvement of NTA insiders, subject experts, translators, and coaching networks operating in states like Rajasthan and Maharashtra, leading to numerous arrests. It was also claimed that the leaked papers were sold for millions of rupees. This entire controversy significantly impacted the future of students and raised serious questions about the NTA's credibility. The Supreme Court had also strongly reprimanded the NTA, which ultimately led to the temporary ban on Telegram.

What this means for you
• Across India: Indian users of Telegram will not have full access to the app's services until June 22, directly impacting their communication and information access.
• In India: This ruling could set a precedent for future government policies regarding online platform control and content moderation, particularly in sensitive matters.

Questions & Answers

1. How long will the ban on Telegram continue?
According to the Delhi High Court's order, the temporary ban on Telegram will continue until June 22.

2. Why was Telegram banned?
The ban was imposed due to Telegram's alleged use in NEET paper leaks, fake question papers, and the spread of misinformation, as recommended by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

3. Under which legal provision was this ban implemented?
The ban was implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

4. Did Telegram challenge this ban?
Yes, Telegram challenged the order in the Delhi High Court, but its petition was dismissed.

5. How many Indian users are affected by this ban?
According to Telegram, over 15 crore Indian users are being affected by this temporary restriction.

6. When was the NEET-UG 2026 exam held?
The NEET-UG 2026 exam was conducted on May 3, 2026, for more than 23 lakh students across the country.

7. What action has been taken in the NEET paper leak case?
A CBI investigation revealed the involvement of NTA insiders, subject experts, translators, and coaching networks, leading to several arrests.

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