Published Jun 18, 2026 | 5:33 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 18, 2026 | 5:33 PM
It has been estimated that Telegram has around 15 crore users in the country.
Synopsis: The central government argued that the messaging app’s architecture and privacy features made it the preferred platform for illegal networks, even as Telegram contended that millions of users have been relying on Telegram for legitimate purposes. The blanket restriction following the NEET fiasco disproportionately affected lawful activities, it added.
Synopsis: The central government argued that the messaging app’s architecture and privacy features made it the preferred platform for illegal networks, even as Telegram contended that millions of users have been relying on Telegram for legitimate purposes. The blanket restriction following the NEET fiasco disproportionately affected lawful activities, it added.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday, 18 June, reserved its verdict on Telegram FZ-LLC’s petition challenging the Union government’s ban on its app ahead of the NEET-UG, 2026, re-examination.
Earlier, aggressively defending its decision to block Telegram temporarily in India, the Union Government told the Delhi High Court that the instant messaging platform has evolved into “the new dark web”.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Bench of Justice Tejas Karia that cybercriminals, fraudsters and other malicious actors were operating on the platform under the cover of anonymity.
The court had earlier directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Testing Agency to submit their responses to the restrictions imposed on Telegram.
Mehta further submitted that concerns far broader than the NEET-UD re-examination controversy prompted the government’s action. Telegram’s architecture and privacy features made it the preferred platform for illegal networks.
On 16 June, MeitY issued a notification under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, restricting access to Telegram in India till 22 June, covering the day of the NEET-UG, 2026, re-examination.
The re-examination was necessitated following a leak of NEET question papers via Telegram groups. The exam held on 3 May was cancelled, and a re-test has been scheduled for 21 May.
Telegram challenged the temporary ban in the Delhi Court. Arguing for the petitioner, Senior Advocate Dhruv Mehta said millions of users have been relying on Telegram for legitimate purposes. He contended that the blanket restriction disproportionately affected lawful activities.
It has been estimated that Telegram has over 15 crore users in the country.
Meanwhile, international news agency Reuters reported that India held talks with Telegram for a fortnight before the ban. The report said India accused Telegram of inaction on channels such as “NEET PAPER LEAKED” and “Paper Leaked NEET” despite their suspicious nature.
Telegram reportedly expressed surprise “at the suggestion that it has been inactive in addressing unlawful content”, adding it did not permit illegal activities using its service.
It also taunted the Indian government on X. “Over 300,000 people die of drowning each year. It is now illegal to consume or possess water,” it posted.
Telegram also alleged after a 3 June meeting with Indian officials that its minutes did not accurately capture the discussions. The government records said Telegram expressed its limitations in proactively detecting “more subjective” content linked to exams, instead of “objective issues” like child sex content and pornography, Reuters reported.
In a rebuttal on 5 June, the messaging app denied the absence of proactive measures, but said it required more moderation.
In its petition to the high court, the messaging app strongly objected to the government minutes, saying they were a “one-sided and inaccurate account of the discussions” that “deliberately” omitted details of the company’s proactive processes.
South First — as the website’s name suggests — aims to provide accurate and non-partisan news from the Southern States; and more importantly, create a platform for informed analysis of politics and policy in the region. No aspect of our lives is unaffected by politics, be it economy, social welfare, public health, or even cinema. Hence the focus on politics and policy..
© Copyright SouthFirst 2025 All rights reserved.
powered by Veegam Software Pvt Ltd.
Leave a Reply