NEW DELHI — Telegram has challenged an Indian government order temporarily blocking access to its messaging platform, arguing in court that the measure unfairly affects millions of users and does not address the source of exam paper leaks that prompted the restriction, according to court filings and statements from the company and government officials.
The petition was filed in the Delhi High Court after India imposed a nationwide restriction on Telegram until June 22, citing concerns that the platform had been used by organized groups involved in examination fraud linked to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), a key medical entrance examination. A judge agreed on Wednesday to hear Telegram’s challenge, according to court records.
Indian authorities said the temporary ban was introduced after allegations that examination materials had been leaked and circulated through channels operating on the platform. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which administers the examination, said the measure was intended to protect candidates ahead of a scheduled re-examination later this month.
“The measures have been taken in the interest of public order,” the NTA said in a statement, describing what it called the organized use of Telegram by cheating networks seeking to defraud examination candidates.
Telegram founder Pavel Durov criticized the restriction, saying it penalizes ordinary users rather than those responsible for alleged leaks. “The ban has not stopped anything and the leaks simply moved to other apps,” Durov said in public comments reported on Tuesday.
The dispute follows a broader controversy surrounding the NEET examination. Indian authorities cancelled an earlier round of test results after allegations that question papers had been leaked before the exam. Officials said they were investigating the claims, which affected millions of students and triggered protests in several cities.
Digital rights advocates have also questioned the scope of the restriction. The Internet Freedom Foundation described the ban as a “disproportionate” response, arguing that targeting an entire platform may not address the underlying causes of examination fraud.
Government officials have defended the action as a temporary measure. NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said some channels linked to alleged fraud continued to operate through virtual private networks or from outside India, but limiting access could reduce the number of potential victims.
As of Wednesday, the temporary restriction remained in effect. The Delhi High Court is expected to hear Telegram’s petition in the coming days, while the government’s order is scheduled to remain in force until June 22 unless modified by the court.
