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Allahabad High Court Quashes NSA, Orders Compensation for DU Student
Akriti Chaudhary was arrested after a workers’ protest in Noida.
Officials later used a strict law called the National Security Act against her.
The High Court checked the case and found that she was already in custody before the violence began.
The judges said the police did not show enough evidence connecting her to the violence.
They also said the strict law cannot be used simply to prevent someone from getting ordinary bail.
The court cancelled the NSA action against her.
It ordered the government to pay her ₹5 lakh.
The money is supposed to come from the salaries of officials responsible for the decision, not from public funds.
The Allahabad High Court quashed National Security Act charges against Delhi University student Akriti Chaudhary.
The court said police and district officials provided no concrete evidence or video footage supporting the allegations.
Chaudhary was taken into custody on April 11, before violence reportedly began on April 13.
The court ordered ₹5 lakh compensation for the alleged violation of her personal liberty.
The amount will be recovered from the salaries of officials found responsible, rather than paid from public funds.
- Who
- Delhi University law student Akriti Chaudhary; the Uttar Pradesh police and district administration.
- What
- The Allahabad High Court quashed NSA charges against Chaudhary and ordered ₹5 lakh compensation.
- Where
- The case concerned a workers’ wage-hike agitation in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and was heard by the Allahabad High Court.
- When
- The court issued its decision on September 8, 2026; Chaudhary was detained on April 11 and the NSA was invoked on May 13.
- Why
- The court found that the authorities had not provided concrete evidence and that Chaudhary was in custody before the reported violence occurred.
High Court’s Findings
Police and Administration’s Position
Evidence for the NSA action
High Court’s Findings
The court said the authorities failed to provide concrete evidence or video footage supporting the serious allegations against Chaudhary.
Police and Administration’s Position
The police and district administration had alleged that Chaudhary was connected to the events surrounding the workers’ agitation and invoked the NSA against her.
Responsibility for later violence
High Court’s Findings
The court questioned how Chaudhary could be responsible for violence and arson on April 13 when she had already been taken into custody on April 11.
Police and Administration’s Position
The authorities’ case included allegations related to the violence, although the court rejected the basis presented for holding Chaudhary responsible.
Use of preventive detention
High Court’s Findings
The court said stringent preventive detention laws cannot be used to deny a citizen the ordinary right to bail or suppress peaceful protest.
Police and Administration’s Position
The district administration used the NSA against Chaudhary and activist-journalist Satya Verma in connection with the agitation.
Key facts
- Accused
- Akriti Chaudhary, a Delhi University law student
- Law invoked
- National Security Act (NSA)
- Detention date
- April 11, 2026
- Reported violence
- April 13, 2026
- NSA invocation
- May 13, 2026
- Compensation
- ₹5 lakh
- Responsible officials named
- The Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate, the Station House Officer who prepared the initial report, and other concerned police officers
Sources
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