The Delhi High Court is set to pronounce its verdict on Friday, 20 June 2025, on a writ petition filed by messaging platform Telegram challenging the Centre's decision to temporarily suspend its services across India ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination scheduled for 21 June. The ruling, expected at 10:30 am IST, will determine whether emergency digital restrictions invoked under the Information Technology Act, 2000 can hold against a constitutional challenge from one of the world's largest messaging platforms.

Background of the Suspension

A single-judge Bench of Justice Tejas Karia reserved judgment on Thursday after hearing arguments from both Telegram and the Union government. The writ petition targets restrictions imposed pursuant to directions issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, following recommendations by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Telegram's services were suspended across India until 22 June, and its message-editing feature was disabled until 30 June. The platform contends these measures are disproportionate and adversely affect millions of users who rely on it for legitimate communication.

What the Government Said

The Union government defended the suspension in an affidavit filed through MeitY, arguing that Telegram's architecture and its repeated misuse for examination-related fraud left the administration with 'no other option' but to invoke emergency blocking powers. The Centre stated the decision came only after 'exhausting alternatives', including repeated requests for targeted takedowns of unlawful content, which were deemed inadequate.

According to the government, the NTA had flagged several Telegram channels allegedly involved in the sale of purported NEET question papers and examination-related scams. The identified channels, groups, and bots reportedly had a combined reach of nearly 1.46 lakh accounts and were openly soliciting payments from candidates in exchange for alleged access to examination papers.

The Stakes: Over 22 Lakh Candidates

The Centre maintained that its 'prime consideration' was to safeguard the integrity of the re-examination, which is being conducted for over 22 lakh candidates. The re-examination follows allegations of question paper leaks in the original NEET (UG) 2026 examination held on 3 May — a controversy that had already triggered significant public and political scrutiny of the NTA's examination management processes.

This is not the first time India's examination ecosystem has been rocked by allegations of paper leaks. The recurring nature of such incidents has intensified calls for structural reforms in how competitive examinations are conducted and secured. Notably, the invocation of Section 69A — a provision typically associated with national security and public order — to address an examination fraud signals an escalation in the government's approach to digital platform accountability.

Key Legal Question

At the heart of the case is whether a blanket suspension of a communication platform serving millions of users is a proportionate response to the alleged misuse by a subset of channels. Telegram sought urgent relief from the court, arguing the restrictions go beyond what the law permits and cause irreversible harm to lawful users. The government's counter is that targeted takedowns had already been attempted and failed, leaving a platform-wide block as the only effective remedy.

The Delhi High Court's verdict on 20 June will set a significant precedent for how India's IT law can be applied to global platforms during sensitive national events.