Key facts
- Court rules India's temporary Telegram block is not disproportionate
- Telegram's legal challenge to overturn the ban has been dismissed
- Blocking powers exercised under India's Information Technology Act
India Today reports that a court has dismissed Telegram's bid to overturn the Indian government's temporary blocking of the app, ruling that the ban was not disproportionate. The messaging platform had challenged the government's blocking order in court, arguing it went too far, but the court sided with the state's position.
The Indian government has the power to issue temporary blocking orders under the Information Technology Act, typically citing reasons such as national security, public order, or ongoing criminal investigations. Telegram has previously faced scrutiny globally over its use for coordinating illegal activity, and India has been among the countries examining its operations closely.
The ruling is a significant setback for Telegram and sets a precedent that courts are willing to defer to the government's assessment of necessity when temporary platform blocks are challenged. For Indian users — Telegram is widely used for news channels, community groups, and encrypted messaging — the decision underscores how quickly access to major platforms can be legally curtailed.