The Centre on Thursday defended its decision in the Delhi High Court to temporarily restrict access to the Telegram app ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination scheduled for June 21.
Appearing before the court, the government argued that Telegram’s infrastructure, particularly its bot system, can be used to spread information in bulk and may pose risks during sensitive examinations.
The law officer submitted that bots are automated systems that can be created in large numbers and linked together to form networks capable of rapidly disseminating content with minimal human oversight. He further stated that Telegram allows a single account to create multiple bots, increasing the potential for misuse.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, told the court that the platform operates on cloud-based architecture, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace or identify users effectively if violations occur. He also said similar issues are not seen with all intermediaries.
The Centre further argued that the design of the platform poses enforcement challenges and has, in some cases, been linked to misuse including unlawful activities.
The Delhi High Court is currently hearing Telegram’s petition challenging the government’s order restricting access to the app ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-exam. A bench headed by Justice Tejas Karia has sought the Centre’s response on the matter.
The issue comes in the backdrop of the NEET-UG exam controversy, where the test held on May 3 was cancelled on May 12 following allegations of paper leaks. The case is being investigated by the CBI.
The matter remains under judicial consideration.
