Telegram Challenges Indian Government's Temporary Ban in Delhi High Court
Quick Look
- Messaging platform Telegram has challenged an Indian government order temporarily blocking the app ahead of a retest of the NEET medical entrance examination.
- Telegram claims over 150 million users are affected by the ban, which the government imposed due to alleged use by cheating rackets.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Indian government temporarily blocked Telegram ahead of a retest of the NEET medical entrance examination, citing its use by cheating rackets. Telegram is challenging this order in the Delhi High Court.
Messaging platform Telegram approached the Delhi High Court on Tuesday to challenge the Indian government's order temporarily blocking the app ahead of a retest of a nationwide medical college entrance examination, according to a report by Indian news outlet Bar and Bench.
According to the report citing Madhav Khosla, the lawyer representing Telegram, the court agreed to hear the matter today on an urgent basis.
Khosla told the Bench that Telegram has over 150 million users who have been affected by the government's ban.
Telegram has yet to officially comment about the temporary ban.
Why is the Indian government blocking Telegram?
Last month, the authorities cancelled the NEET exam, which students need to qualify to take admissions to medical colleges across India, after they found its question paper was leaked.
The cancellation of the exam sparked protests in the country following media reports of suicides among students.
The government blocked Telegram until June 22 saying the app was used to "defraud candidates" appearing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) medical entrance test.
The measure on Telegram was taken "in response to the organized use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates appearing for the NEET 2026 re-examination scheduled on 21 June 2026," said the Ministry of Education's National Testing Agency.
Telegram has seen rapid growth in India, making the country its biggest market by download, though WhatsApp remains the dominant messaging platform.
Edited by: Rana Taha
Open Questions
- Will the court rule in favor of Telegram?
- What are the specific measures taken against Telegram?
- What are the long-term implications for messaging apps in India?
