New Delhi, June 17: A legal dispute has reportedly begun over the temporary restriction imposed on messaging platform Telegram ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-test examination. According to reports, Telegram has challenged the Central Government’s decision before the Delhi High Court, arguing that the move is affecting millions of legitimate users across the country.
The matter was placed before Justice Tejas Karia of the Delhi High Court, who is reported to have agreed to hear the petition on Wednesday. Telegram has contended that the temporary restriction has disrupted communication services for genuine users and raised concerns over the proportionality of the government’s action.
As per reports, the Central Government imposed a temporary restriction on Telegram services until June 22 following a recommendation from the National Testing Agency (NTA). The measure was reportedly aimed at preventing the spread of misinformation, fake paper leak claims, and activities of cheating networks during the NEET-UG 2026 re-test scheduled for June 21.
The order is said to have been issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The legality and justification of the decision are now expected to come under judicial scrutiny in the Delhi High Court.
The outcome of the case could have significant implications for the balance between examination security measures and the rights of digital communication platforms and their users.
