Updated · Bar & Bench - Indian Legal News · Jun 19
Delhi High Court Backs Telegram Block Until June 22 Under IT Act 69A
Updated
Updated · Bar & Bench - Indian Legal News · Jun 19
Delhi High Court Backs Telegram Block Until June 22 Under IT Act 69A
3 articles · Updated · Bar & Bench - Indian Legal News · Jun 19
Summary
Delhi High Court said Section 69A lets India block an entire app or platform, not just specific posts or accounts, and upheld the temporary Telegram ban through June 22.
Justice Tejas Karia held that the IT Act’s definition of “information” is broad enough to cover software-based platforms, rejecting Telegram’s argument that only individual content can be blocked.
The court found the wider curbs proportionate because Telegram’s channels, bots, cloud storage and anonymity let NEET-UG 2026 misinformation spread quickly, while mirror channels made narrower takedowns ineffective.
Telegram had argued it was singled out despite removing flagged URLs within an hour on June 9 and taking down more than 900 unlawful links, but the court also let the government keep its message-editing restriction until June 30.
The ruling strengthens the government’s hand under Section 69A, whose non-compliance can bring up to 7 years in prison and a fine for intermediaries.