Full Breakdown
Noida District Magistrate Appeals High Court Compensation Order Over NSA Detention
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Appeal to the Supreme Court
Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate Medha Roopam has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging an Allahabad High Court order that directed a INR5 lakh deduction from her salary as compensation to Akriti Chaudhary, a Delhi University student whose detention under the National Security Act (NSA) was declared illegal.
Background & Context
In April 2026 a workers’ protest took place in Noida, with industrial and contractual labourers demanding higher wages and parity with neighbouring Haryana. The protest turned violent on April 13, and police alleged that student activist Akriti Chaudhary had incited stone-pelting and arson, leading the Uttar Pradesh Police to invoke the NSA against her on May 13. Chaudhary, a history graduate, had no prior criminal record.
A Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court later quashed the nearly five-month detention, describing the state’s narrative as “concocted” and criticizing the magistrate’s conduct. The court ordered Chaudhary’s immediate release and mandated INR5 lakh compensation to be recovered from Roopam’s salary and that of other officials involved, down to the SHO.
Timeline
- April 10–? 2026 – Workers’ protest in Noida.
- April 12 2026 – Akriti Chaudhary arrested.
- April 13 2026 – Protest turns violent.
- May 13 2026 – NSA invoked against Chaudhary and activist-journalist Satya Verma.
- September 2 2026 – High Court quashes detention, orders INR5 lakh compensation, records displeasure against Roopam and police officers.
- September 9 2026 – Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informs the Supreme Court that an appeal will be filed.
- Early September 2026 – Roopam files a Special Leave Petition challenging the compensation order.
Data & Statistics
- Compensation: INR5 lakh to be deducted from Roopam and other responsible officers.
- Detention duration: Approximately five months.
- Age of student: Reported as 25 in several outlets and 24 in another.
- Activists arrested: Multiple, including Chaudhary and Satya Verma.
Official Statements & Responses
The High Court bench, Justices Atul Sreedharan and Achal Sachdev, held that the detention order lacked substantive evidence and was based on “speculative” grounds.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court that the government would appeal the decision, indicating an intention to contest both the quashing of the NSA order and the compensation directive.
Police officials claimed to possess “strong electronic and videographic evidence” linking Chaudhary to the violence, though the court found no material supporting that claim.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Age of Akriti Chaudhary: Some reports list her as 25, others as 24.
- Exact arrest date: The High Court record notes April 12, while other accounts reference the broader protest period.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The freedom of speech and expression extends to coming out on the streets and agitating a cause, and gathering peacefully without arms or without threat to the public order.” — the court
What’s Next
The Supreme Court is expected to consider Roopam’s petition within the next few days. A decision will determine whether the INR5 lakh compensation stands and could influence future NSA applications against student activists.