New Delhi, June 18 -- The Centre on Thursday defended its decision to temporarily block Telegram in India till June 22, telling the Delhi High Court that the messaging platform had emerged as a crucial tool for organised cheating networks involved in the NEET re-examination process and that immediate preventive action was necessary to safeguard the integrity of the examination.

Relying on its affidavit and submissions before the Court, the Union Government maintained that the blocking order was passed after following the due procedure prescribed under law and was based on credible material indicating large-scale misuse of the platform.

Justice Tejas Karia reserved orders on Telegram's plea challenging the blocking order after hearing de...