On 16th June 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued a direction to temporarily restrict access to popular messaging platform Telegram. The ban is in place from June 16th 2026 to June 22nd 2026. The decision to temporarily ban Telegram was taken to prevent question paper leaks prior to the Re-NEET exam to be held on June 21st 2026. The Ministry has also directed the platform to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30th, 2026. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has stated that restrictions have been imposed to address a public-order concern with the minimum restriction necessary.
SFLC.in strongly condemns the restriction on Telegram and the direction to alter features of the platform. Such measures are disproportionate, create widespread disruption, and place significant limitations on the rights to freedom of speech and expression and access to information.
The restriction has reportedly been issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which empowers the Government to direct the blocking of access to information generated, transmitted, received, stored, or hosted in a computer resource under specific circumstances. However, it remains unclear whether Section 69A can be used to mandate changes to the design or functionality of a platform, such as disabling a message-editing feature. Any exercise of statutory powers must remain within the scope of authority granted by law and be accompanied by adequate procedural safeguards.
Most importantly, restricting access to Telegram does not address the issue of paper leaks, which occur through the lapse of security safeguards within NTA. Telegram is merely one of the many methods used to circulate the same. A paper leak might still take place, albeit on a different platform.
We also want to emphasize that Telegram is one of the most widely used platforms in India with over 150 million registered users. Telegram is also widely used by businesses, creators and community groups in India for e-commerce, promotions, customer service, community building, broadcast channels and marketing, all of these activities are directly impacted by this platform-level restriction. Any measure that restricts access to an entire communication platform must satisfy the proportionality test as laid down in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017) and satisfy the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality. Restricting a platform used by millions of people to address the possibility of examination-related misconduct is neither a narrowly tailored nor an effective response. While the stated objective may be the prevention of paper leaks, the practical consequence grossly violates the rights to freedom of expression, trade, and business of a large number of people aside from other rights under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.
SFLC.in stands with Telegram’s move to approach the Hon’ble Delhi High Court against the temporary ban on platform over NEET exam leak concerns. SFLC.in has also previously opposed blanket restrictions on internet access imposed to prevent examination malpractice, noting that such measures impose significant costs on the public while failing to address underlying institutional deficiencies. The present restriction raises similar concerns. It adversely affects the rights to freedom of speech and expression, the freedom to practise any profession or carry on any occupation, trade or business as guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India.
We therefore urge MeitY to immediately withdraw the restrictions imposed on Telegram and to adopt targeted, lawful, and proportionate measures such as takedown of specific channels, groups, or accounts that are being used to circulate leaked examination materials. While we understand the importance of preventing examination malpractice, we also maintain that such efforts should not come at the cost of the fundamental rights of millions of lawful users who rely on digital communication platforms for their daily lives and livelihoods.
