Telegram moves Delhi HC against Centre’s ban ahead of NEET-UG re-test; court to hear plea today

Telegram has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the Central government’s decision to impose a temporary ban on the messaging platform ahead of the NEET-UG re-test scheduled for June 21.

The matter was mentioned before a bench of Justice Tajas Karia, which agreed to hear the petition on the same day, according to reports.

The government had recently ordered a temporary restriction on Telegram as part of measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination.


In its plea, Telegram has challenged the legality of the move, which was reportedly enforced until June 22 in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination. Lawyers appearing in the case said the restriction has affected over 150 million users across India.

The Centre had acted on a request from the National Testing Agency (NTA), which alleged that organised cheating networks were using the platform to circulate leaked exam material and mislead candidates ahead of the test scheduled for June 21.

Following the order, telecom operators reportedly began restricting access to Telegram, while the app was also removed from major app stores. The government has described the action as temporary and targeted, aimed at preventing exam-related fraud and maintaining the integrity of the re-examination process.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov criticised the decision, stating that the platform had already taken down hundreds of channels involved in leaking exam content and scams. He also argued that such measures disproportionately impact legitimate users and could push illicit activity to other platforms.

The NTA has defended the restriction, saying it is necessary to ensure a fair and secure examination environment and will be lifted after the re-test. The Delhi High Court is expected to examine the proportionality and legality of the government’s action, along with its broader impact on digital communication services.