Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Stays Compensation Order Against Noida District Magistrate
Akriti Chaudhary was detained under a national security law after a workers’ protest in Noida.
The Allahabad High Court said her detention was not lawful and ordered her release if she was not needed in another case.
It also ordered Rs 5 lakh in compensation for her.
The High Court said the money should be recovered from the salaries of District Magistrate Medha Roopam and other officials.
It strongly criticised how the detention decision was made.
Medha Roopam and the Uttar Pradesh government challenged parts of that ruling in the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has temporarily stopped the compensation order and the High Court’s related directions while it examines the case.
The Supreme Court will hear the matter again on October 7.
The Supreme Court stayed the Allahabad High Court’s order requiring District Magistrate Medha Roopam to pay Rs 5 lakh from her salary.
The stay also covers the High Court’s direction quashing Akriti Chaudhary’s detention under the National Security Act.
Chaudhary, a 25-year-old Delhi University history graduate, was detained after arrests linked to an April workers’ protest in Noida.
The High Court called the state’s account of the detention “concocted,” ordered Chaudhary’s release if she was not wanted in another case, and criticised officials.
The Supreme Court issued notice on pleas by Roopam and Uttar Pradesh and listed the matter for further hearing on October 7.
- Who
- Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam, Akriti Chaudhary, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the Supreme Court.
- What
- The Supreme Court stayed the Allahabad High Court’s directions on Chaudhary’s NSA detention, including the Rs 5 lakh salary recovery order against Roopam.
- When
- The Supreme Court issued the interim stay on Wednesday and listed the matter for October 7; the High Court’s detention ruling was dated September 2.
- Where
- The dispute concerns proceedings in the Supreme Court and Allahabad High Court and events linked to a workers’ protest in Noida.
- Why
- Roopam and Uttar Pradesh challenged the High Court’s findings and its direction to recover compensation from officials over Chaudhary’s detention.
Allahabad High Court’s Findings
Roopam and Uttar Pradesh’s Challenge
Validity of detention
Allahabad High Court’s Findings
The High Court quashed Chaudhary’s NSA detention, described the state’s account as “concocted,” and ordered her release if she was not wanted in another case.
Roopam and Uttar Pradesh’s Challenge
Roopam and the Uttar Pradesh government challenged the High Court’s directions before the Supreme Court; the articles do not state their full merits-based arguments.
Financial responsibility
Allahabad High Court’s Findings
The High Court awarded Chaudhary Rs 5 lakh and directed recovery from Roopam’s salary and the salaries of other responsible officials down to the station house officer.
Roopam and Uttar Pradesh’s Challenge
Counsel for Roopam and Uttar Pradesh argued that the detention decision followed material reviewed through multiple levels of police administration, and the Supreme Court questioned isolating Roopam for the liability.
Official conduct
Allahabad High Court’s Findings
The High Court criticised the bureaucracy and police, said officials’ loyalty should be to the Constitution rather than the political executive, and ordered its displeasure recorded in service records.
Roopam and Uttar Pradesh’s Challenge
The Supreme Court has stayed the High Court’s critical observations while it considers the challenge.
- District magistrate
- Medha Roopam, Gautam Buddh Nagar
- Detained student
- Akriti Chaudhary, a 25-year-old Delhi University history graduate
- Compensation
- Rs 5 lakh, ordered to be recovered from officials’ salaries
- Detention law
- National Security Act
- Related protest
- Noida workers’ protest seeking higher wages in April
- Supreme Court action
- Stayed the operation of the High Court judgment, particularly paragraphs 27 to 33
- Next hearing
- October 7
Sources
SC stays Allahabad HC order against Noida DM reprimanding her for student’s detention under NSA
SC stays HC order asking Noida DM to compensate student for NSA detention
Noida District Magistrate Gets Relief, Supreme Court Pauses Rs 5 Lakh Compensation
Supreme Court to hear DM Medha Roopam plea against Rs 5 Lakh compensation order