Emergency statutory powers allow for temporary platform-wide blocking when systemic misuse persists and entity-specific interventions prove inadequate. Such measures adhere to the proportionality doctrine if they are narrowly tailored, time-bound, and represent the least restrictive necessity to prevent significant public order disruption and the commission of cognizable offences.

JUDGMENT :

TEJAS KARIA, J.

1. This Writ Petition has been filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, 1950 for quashing and setting aside of the interim order dated 16.06.2026 (“Impugned Order”) passed by Respondent No. 1, Union of India, through Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (“MeitY”).

2. MeitY passed the Impugned Order under Section 69A of the Information of Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”) on the request made by Respondent No. 2, Ministry of Home Affairs (“MHA”) and Respondent No.3, National Testing Agency (“NTA”).

3. After filing of the present Writ Petition, Respondent No. 1 has passed the final order dated 18.06.2026 (“Final Order”) confirming the directions contained in the Impugned Order (collectively “Orders”).

FACTUAL MATRIX

4. NTA vide letter dated 21.05.2026 informed MeitY of the misuse of Telegram Application (“Telegram”) of Petitioner No. 1, Telegram FZ LLC by third-parties in respect of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2026 (“NEET UG, 2026”).

5. MeitY issued a notice dated 01.06.2026 (“Notice”), convening a meeting on 03.06.2026 (“Meeting”) with the Petitioners and NTA to consider the scale and nature of the alleged misuse of Telegram by third parties in relation to NEET UG, 2026. The Petitioners, vide e-mail dated 01.06.2026, acknowledged receipt of the Notice issued by MeitY. Prior to the Meeting, the Petitioners submitted a detailed response dated 02.06.2026 (“Reply”) to the Notice, addressing the issues raised therein.

6. The Meeting was held as scheduled and was attended by the Parties. Thereafter, the Petitioners, vide e-mail dated 04.06.2026, addressed a post- Meeting communication summarising the discussions that had taken place during the Meeting in relation to the issues concerning NEET UG, 2026, as raised by MeitY.

7. MeitY issued a document dated 05.06.2026 recording the minutes of the Meeting (“Minutes of Meeting”). The Petitioners, vide e-mail of the same date, disputed the Minutes of Meeting as issued by MeitY and furnished their clarifications thereto.

8. Thereafter, vide e-mail dated 09.06.2026, MeitY shared with the Petitioners a list of URLs pertaining to Telegram channels, accounts and bots, in respect whereof complaints had been received alleging their involvement in fraud relating to the NEET UG, 2026 examination. The Petitioners, vide e-mail dated 05.06.2026, acknowledged receipt of the said list of URLs shared by MeitY and informed MeitY that the said URLs had been taken down.

9. On 16.06.2026, Respondent No. 1, by way of the Impugned Order, issued the following directions:

i. Telegram and its associated URLs to be blocked across India within one hour of the receipt of the Impugned Order, till 22.06.2026;

ii. Telegram to disable the message editing feature till 30.06.2026;

iii. The Department of Telecommunication to instruct application stores and internet service providers to block / disable access to Telegram till 22.06.2026; and

iv. The Designated Officer to place the matter before the Committee under Rule 7 of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009 (“2009 Rules”) for consideration and recommendation within 48 hours of issuance of the Impugned Order.

10. Aggrieved by the Impugned Order, the pres