The Delhi High Court upheld the temporary ban on Telegram during the NEET UG 2026 re-exam, ruling that authorities followed due process and acted on relevant material.
The court dismissed Telegram’s challenge against the government order, affirming that emergency directions were justified to safeguard the examination process.
Delivering its verdict, the court noted, “After considering all arguments, we found that given the emergency nature of impugned orders, Respondent strictly followed the procedure.” The bench rejected Telegram’s contention that the orders lacked validity due to non-communication of reasons.
The judgment clarified that both interim and final orders were supported by material evidence and reasons. The court further held that under Section 2(1) of the IT Act, platforms like Telegram fall within the ambit of “information.”
The ruling comes amid heightened concerns over the misuse of messaging platforms during high-stakes examinations. Authorities imposed the temporary restriction as a preventive measure ahead of the NEET UG 2026 exam, citing risks of misinformation and fabricated leak claims.
By upholding the ban, the court reinforced the government’s stance that extraordinary steps were necessary to protect the credibility of the examination system. The decision underscores the judiciary’s recognition of the balance between digital freedom and exam integrity.
For millions of medical aspirants, the verdict signals a strong commitment to ensuring fairness in one of India’s most competitive entrance tests.
