The Delhi High Court has raised questions over the government's decision to restrict Telegram ahead of the NEET re-examination scheduled for June 21. The court asked how the rights of 150 million Telegram users could be curtailed because one set of people was appearing for an examination.
Appearing for the Government of India, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that a large number of groups and channels were operating on Telegram and that the court may never have heard of channels functioning in such a manner on other platforms.
However, the court argued that such a provision is allowed when there is a law and order situation. The bench said, 'That is where the test of proportionality comes.'
SG Mehta then urged the bench to consider the ban in the interest of the public and students. He stressed that the 'editing' feature of Telegram cannot be ignored.
He said that if a message is edited, it says so. However, such is not the case with Telegram. He argued that it is an 'evenly tailored restriction' and no user whose rights are said to be affected by the ban has appeared before the court.
The matter of Telegram's plea against the decision to restrict its access prior to the retest was heard by a vacation bench headed by Justice Tejas Karia.
