Telegram ban verdict LIVE | Delhi HC to pronounce verdict on Telegram's plea against temporary NEET ban

Subscribed with another email? Logout and Login with that one. Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective. First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming. Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day. Science For All The weekly newsletter from science writers takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in! Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers THEdge At the cutting edge of education and careers Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there Gender Agenda Stories from beyond the binary. The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features. The Centre defended its decision to suspend access to Telegram till June 22, contending that the platform had become a key tool for organised cheating networks involved in the alleged leakage and circulation of NEET examination material. | Photo Credit: Reuters Delhi High court on Friday (June 19, 2026) declined to grant relief to Telegram, upholding govt.’s decision for temporary ban in view of the NEET re-examination. The Centre defended its decision on Thursday (June 18) to suspend access to Telegram till June 22, contending that the platform had become a key tool for organised cheating networks involved in the alleged leakage and circulation of NEET examination material. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, told the court that the enterprise behind the messaging app had been repeatedly asked to proactively monitor and curb illegal and suspicious channels on the platform. However, Mr. Mehta said, the company failed to take any meaningful action. Also read: Telegram challenge puts spotlight on Section 69A of the IT Act Senior advocate Dhruv Mehta, appearing for Telegram, said that the government had failed to justify the use of emergency powers, and had not demonstrated why specific content could not be blocked, instead of disabling access to the entire platform. “The order says it is in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India. An examination like NEET will affect the sovereignty and integrity of India? What is the application of mind?” he said. Delhi High court upholds govt. decision to ban Telegram temoprary before Neet re-examination. - The Hindu Bureau. Nisarga Adhikary, a cybersecurity researcher at IIT-K, warned that a blanket ban or heavy-handed restriction “optimises for visibility rather than actual risk reduction”. “Telegram is relatively mainstream and at least has identifiable infrastructure, legal points of contact, and a large amount of public activity,” Mr. Adhikary said. “If determined actors are forced off it, they do not disappear. They migrate to platforms with stronger anonymity properties... pushing adversaries into darker corners of the ecosystem may simply reduce visibility into it.” Mr. Adhikary also pointed out the technical impracticality of demanding immediate software overhauls, stating it is not easy for Telegram to alter integral functions such as editing or archiving on short notice.- Maitri Porecha The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), in a statement, argued that the government’s ban on Telegram is a band-aid solution and a disproportionate answer to exam fraud. “At the outset, it is important to note that Section 69A and the Blocking Rules of 2009 framed under it allow the government to block access to specific “information” on a computer resource. They do not extend to switching off an entire intermediary, still less to ordering a company to redesign its product by removing a feature for a whole country,” the IFF said. Telegram was warned about misuse before blanket ban, says NTA chiefNTA warns Telegram of misuse before nationwide ban, citing concerns over exam fraud and inadequate feature adjustments. The Union government on Thursday (June 18, 2026) submitted before the Delhi High Court that the messaging platform Telegram has evolved into the “new dark web”, arguing that its architecture and privacy features have made it a preferred tool for cybercriminals, fraud networks, extremist and terror groups, and operators involved in examination paper leaks. A Bench of Justice Tejas Kataria scrutinised the government’s justification for a platform-wide restriction, even as it acknowledged concerns about examination malpractice and cybercrime. “How can we stop the rights of 150 million people just because one set of citizens are appearing in examinations?” Justice Tejas Karia said, while hearing submissions from both sides. Telegram evolved into ‘new dark web’: CentreCentre urges Telegram to curb illegal channels, citing inadequate measures amid concerns over organized cheating networks. judiciary (system of justice) / education / Live news / medicine / medicine (education) / test/examination Copyright© 2026,

Telegram ban verdict LIVE | Delhi HC to pronounce verdict on Telegram's plea against temporary NEET ban

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Telegram ban verdict LIVE | Delhi HC to pronounce verdict on Telegram's plea against temporary NEET ban

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