सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने अल्लाहाबाद हाई कोर्ट के आदेश को रोका, जिसमें छात्रा की एनएसए हिरासत रद्द और नोएडा DM को 5 लाख रुपये की भरपाई का आदेश था

BREAKING | Supreme Court Stays Allahabad HC Order Quashing Student's NSA Detention & Slamming Noida DM Medha Roopam

Gursimran Kaur Bakshi

23 Sept 2026 7:36 PM IST

The Supreme Court today(September 23) stayed the Allahabad High Court's order directing Gautam Buddh Nagar District(Noida) Magistrate Medha Roopam to pay compensation of Rs.5 lakh from her salary for the detention of student Akriti Chaudhary under the National Security Act in connection with the Noida workers' protest.

The Court also stayed the operation of the judgment which quashed the student's detention.

A bench comprising Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice NK Singh passed an interim order of stay in chambers on two petitions filed by the DM and the State of Uttar Pradesh, respectively. During the hearing, the bench briefly heard Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the District Magistrate, and Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, for the State of UP, before it muted the audio of the VC proceedings and blocked media access (reporters cannot physically enter the Supreme Court).

It has stayed paragraph 27 to 33 of the Allahabad High Court's order wherein strict observations have been made by the bench categorically warning that continued 'despotic' conduct by errant bureaucracy could reduce Uttar Pradesh to an “Orwellian Dystopia," and ordered compensation of Rs. 5 lacs.

"After hearing learned Senior Counsels for the parties, this Court is of the opinion that till the matter is heard on merits, the operation of the impugned judgment, particularly, para Nos. 27 to 33 shall remain stayed."

Paragraph 27-33 of the High Court's judgment contained the strictures against the DM and the direction to pay compensation.

While SG Mehta argued that the strictures against the officer were "unwarranted," Rohatgi also termed the Allahabad High Court's order "totally uncalled for." He stated He added that the respondent, Akriti Chaudhary, was "fomenting trouble" in Manesar in Haryana, and later the agitation shifted to Noida, which led to arson and destruction of public property in April.

Rohatgi contended that the proposal for detention was moved by the SHO, and ultimately passed by the DM. The DM's order was approved by the advisory committee, and subsequently by the State Government and the Union Government under the National Security Act, he added, emphasising that the DM was only a "link in the chain." Rohatgi further contended that the High Court did not examine the NSA detention order, and its examination was only confined to whether the arrest was legal or not. The audio of the proceedings was blocked at this juncture, denying further access to the proceedings.

Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves appeared for Akriti Chaudhary on caveat. The bench has allowed the respondent to file their counter-affidavit.

To recap, while quashing the NSA detention of 24-year-old Delhi University law student and activist, Akriti Chaudhary, the Allahabad High Court had strongly criticized the manner in which the detention order was passed by the Noida District Magistrate.

The Allahabad High Court bench comprising Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Achal Sachdev held that Chaudhary's continued incarceration under the NSA violated her Fundamental Right under Article 21, as the detention order and grounds were devoid of material and were passed “without application of mind”. It also awarded Rs.5 lakh compensation to Chaudhary and directed that the amount be recovered from the salary of the District Magistrate Roopam, who passed the detention order, as well as other officers responsible, "right down to the SHO".

Chaudhary is a history graduate from Delhi University and was arrested in connection with cases arising from the Noida workers' protest in April 2026. The Uttar Pradesh Police subsequently invoked the National Security Act, 1980 against Chaudhary and activist/journalist Satyam Verma on May 13. They were among several activists arrested in cases relating to the peaceful protest seeking higher wages.

High Court's observations on DM Medha Roopam

The High Court was particularly critical of the conduct of the District Magistrate, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Medha Roopam, who had passed the NSA detention order. It held that where the police report contained only allegations without credible supporting material, the District Magistrate was expected to examine the record 'threadbare' before deciding whether the stringent provisions of the NSA were warranted.

It further observed that Chaudhary was a female student activist with no previous criminal record, and the material did not show that she had incited violence. The Court concluded thus: "The conduct of the District Magistrate Gautam Buddha Nagar who passed the impugned order, is worthy of derision."

Additionally, it held that the circumstances revealed that the District Magistrate "desired to set an example" out of Chaudhary and deter others from exercising their right to freedom of speech and expression in public spaces in support of labourers.

Case Details: MEDHA ROOPAM v AKRITI CHAUDHARY AND ORS|Diary No. 56202-2026 |

Click Here To Read/Download Order

Appearances: For Petitioner(s) :Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, Sr. Adv. Mr. Sharan Dev Singh Thakur, Sr. A.A.G. Ms. Ruchira Goel, AOR Ms. Rishika Rishabh, Adv. Mr. Sharanya, Adv. Mr. Keshav Sehgal, Adv. Ms. Krithi Ballal, Adv. Ms. Isha Sharma, Adv. Mr. Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General Mr. Vibhav Mishra, AOR

For Respondent(s) :Mr. Colin Gonsalves, Sr. Adv. Mr. Manik Gupta, Adv. Ms. Puja Sharma, AOR

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