GUWAHATI: The Delhi High Court on Friday, June 19, upheld the Centre's decision to temporarily block access to the messaging platform Telegram ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination scheduled for June 21, declining to grant relief to the company against the government's order.
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Delivering the verdict, Justice Tejas Karia held that the Centre had followed due process and acted within its powers under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. The court observed that the government's action was a proactive and least restrictive measure aimed at safeguarding the integrity of the examination process.
Section 69A of the Information Technology Act empowers the government to direct intermediaries to block public access to online information under specified circumstances.
The court further ruled that both the original blocking order and the subsequent review by the Review Committee were reasoned decisions reflecting due consideration by the authorities.
India suspended access to Telegram on Tuesday until June 22 in the run-up to the NEET-UG re-examination, which is being conducted following allegations of a question paper leak that led to the cancellation of the original exam held in May. Reports had suggested that leaked examination material was circulated through Telegram channels before the test.
Defending the move before the court, the Centre argued that Telegram had become a key tool for organised cheating networks involved in the alleged leakage and distribution of NEET examination content. The government maintained that the temporary ban was necessary to prevent further misuse of the platform and ensure a fair and secure examination process for candidates appearing in the re-test.