Telegram Challenges Temporary India Ban in Delhi High Court Ahead of NEET-UG Retest

Telegram has officially challenged the Indian government's temporary ban on its platform in the Delhi High Court. The restriction, imposed until June 22, was mandated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology following concerns that the app was being used to circulate leaked question papers for the NEET-UG examination.

The government's directive, recommended by the National Testing Agency (NTA), includes a temporary block on access and a requirement for Telegram to disable the message-editing feature until June 30. Officials contend these measures are essential to prevent the fabrication of evidence and the dissemination of leaked papers for the re-examination scheduled for June 21.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has publicly criticized the ban, arguing that it disproportionately punishes over 150 million Indian users rather than the specific individuals responsible for leaks. The company claims the restriction is unconstitutional and warns it sets a dangerous precedent for the blanket suspension of digital services.