During the hearing, the Centre defended the move, saying Telegram’s privacy features have made it particularly attractive to criminal networks, flagging its backdated editing feature that could create unrest after the NEET exam.

According to the Centre, users can conceal identifiers such as phone numbers and Telegram IDs through privacy settings, making it difficult for investigators to establish the real identities behind accounts.

“Telegram can backdate question papers, students will be on the streets. They can post something today with editing and say that it (paper) was already available on June 19. That is where public order comes in,” the Centre submitted.

In its affidavit filed before the high court, the government said that Telegram has become the new dark web and due to its privacy features, the platform is being exploited for illegal activities including terrorism and child exploitation.

“It has been observed that Telegram is being exploited for illegal activities including drug trafficking, cybercrime, extremism, terrorism, child exploitation, and cyber scams and frauds, primarily due to its privacy features,” it said.

The Delhi High Court has upheld the Centre’s temporary suspension of Telegram ahead of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination, ruling that the government followed due process and adopted proportionate measures to prevent examination-related malpractice.