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Supreme Court Stays High Court Ruling on Activist’s Detention
The Supreme Court has temporarily stopped an earlier court order about Akriti Chaudhary’s detention.
The earlier order had cancelled her detention under a law called the National Security Act.
It had also ordered a district magistrate to pay her Rs 5 lakh.
The Supreme Court paused both parts of that order while the legal challenge continues.
Chaudhary was detained before a large workers’ protest in Noida became violent.
She is still in jail because of other criminal cases linked to the protest.
Workers had gathered to demand higher salaries.
The Allahabad High Court said there was not enough evidence for the special detention order.
Government lawyers argued that the High Court’s criticism and compensation order were not justified.
The Supreme Court stayed the Allahabad High Court’s decision quashing Akriti Chaudhary’s detention under the National Security Act.
It also suspended the order requiring Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam to pay Rs 5 lakh in compensation from her salary.
The High Court had found Chaudhary’s detention unsupported by material evidence and ordered without proper consideration.
Chaudhary was detained on April 11, before a Noida workers’ protest turned violent on April 13, and remains jailed in connection with several FIRs.
The protest involved about 40,000 to 45,000 workers demanding higher salaries, and more than 350 people were arrested after the violence.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, the Uttar Pradesh government, District Magistrate Medha Roopam, and activist Akriti Chaudhary are central to the case.
- What
- The Supreme Court stayed the Allahabad High Court’s order quashing Chaudhary’s National Security Act detention and awarding her Rs 5 lakh compensation.
- Where
- The legal proceedings concern Chaudhary’s detention and a workers’ protest in Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- The Supreme Court issued the stay on Wednesday; Chaudhary was detained on April 11, and the workers’ protest turned violent on April 13.
- Why
- The Uttar Pradesh government and Medha Roopam challenged the High Court ruling, while the High Court had found the detention unsupported by evidence and improperly issued.
High Court’s Findings
Government and District Magistrate’s Challenge
Validity of detention
High Court’s Findings
The Allahabad High Court said the detention order lacked material evidence and was passed without application of mind.
Government and District Magistrate’s Challenge
The Uttar Pradesh government and Medha Roopam challenged the High Court’s ruling, arguing that its directions against the district magistrate were unwarranted.
Compensation and official conduct
High Court’s Findings
The High Court ordered Rs 5 lakh to be recovered from Roopam’s salary and strongly criticised her conduct in detaining Chaudhary.
Government and District Magistrate’s Challenge
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi said the compensation and criticism were uncalled for; the Supreme Court has stayed the relevant paragraphs.
Purpose of detention
High Court’s Findings
The High Court said Chaudhary was detained to make an example of her and deter others from supporting workers’ rights in public spaces.
Government and District Magistrate’s Challenge
The Supreme Court’s stay leaves the High Court’s conclusion temporarily inoperative while the challenge proceeds.
Key facts
- Activist
- Akriti Chaudhary, a 25-year-old Delhi University graduate
- Detention law
- National Security Act, which permits detention without trial for up to a year
- Supreme Court action
- Stayed paragraphs 27 to 33 of the Allahabad High Court order
- Compensation order
- Rs 5 lakh ordered by the High Court against District Magistrate Medha Roopam’s salary
- Protest date
- April 13, when the Noida workers’ demonstration turned violent
- Protest size
- About 40,000 to 45,000 workers participated
- Arrests
- More than 350 people were arrested on April 14 in connection with the violence
Sources
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