Telegram Moves Delhi HC Against India Ban Ahead of NEET Re-Exam
Telegram Moves Delhi HC Against India Ban Ahead of NEET Re-Exam
Instant messaging giant Telegram has challenged India's temporary ban in the Delhi High Court. The ban, affecting 150 million users, was imposed due to concerns over NEET-UG exam cheating.
Instant messaging platform Telegram has taken legal action against the Indian government’s decision to temporarily block its services nationwide. The company has moved the Delhi High Court, challenging the Centre’s directive which was issued ahead of the crucial NEET-UG re-examination.
The matter was brought before a vacation bench of Justice Tejas Karia by Advocate Madhav Khosla, who emphasized the urgency of the situation. The court has agreed to hear the case today. Khosla highlighted that this temporary ban impacts a massive user base, affecting more than 150 million Telegram users across India.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) imposed the ban under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. This measure is set to remain in effect until June 22. The government cited serious concerns, alleging that Telegram channels were being used by organized cheating networks connected to the ongoing NEET-UG controversy. Authorities argue that these channels were facilitating the circulation of leaked or fake question papers, coordinating cheating activities, and spreading misinformation related to the examination.
Adding to these restrictions, the government also issued a separate directive to Telegram, instructing the platform to disable its message-editing feature for already posted messages until June 30. Officials expressed worries that this feature could be exploited to manipulate timestamps and alter messages after their initial publication, further complicating efforts to maintain exam integrity.
