New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has upheld the Central government’s decision to temporarily block access to the messaging platform Telegram during the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, ruling that the move was justified in light of concerns surrounding examination integrity and organised cheating.
Delivering the judgment on Friday, Justice Tejas Karia dismissed Telegram’s challenge against the blocking order issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. The Court observed that the restrictions imposed by the government were limited in scope and represented the least intrusive option available to address the situation.
The temporary suspension had been introduced after intelligence inputs suggested that certain groups allegedly involved in examination malpractice were using the platform to circulate leaked material and coordinate illegal activities linked to the medical entrance examination.
The NEET-UG re-test was conducted after the original examination held on May 3 was cancelled amid allegations of question paper leaks and procedural irregularities. The controversy sparked a nationwide debate over the security of competitive examinations and prompted an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
While rejecting the petition filed by Telegram, the High Court concluded that the government’s action struck a reasonable balance between public interest and digital access, particularly in the context of protecting the fairness of a national-level examination affecting millions of aspirants.
The ruling is expected to strengthen the government’s position on taking temporary technological restrictions in exceptional circumstances where national examinations and public interest are at stake.
