Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Supreme Court Revises Stay on Activist’s NSA Detention Ruling
The Supreme Court changed a decision it made one day earlier.
It clarified that Akriti Chaudhary’s detention under a special security law remains cancelled for now.
However, parts of the earlier court order criticizing a district magistrate and ordering compensation remain paused.
Chaudhary was detained before a large workers’ protest in Noida became violent.
The protest was held because workers wanted higher salaries.
Police later arrested more than 350 people in connection with the violence.
Chaudhary remains in jail because she is also named in other cases linked to the protest.
The legal disagreement between the government and the High Court is still continuing.
The Supreme Court revised its Wednesday order concerning the Allahabad High Court’s ruling on Akriti Chaudhary’s detention.
The revised order did not stay the High Court paragraph that quashed Chaudhary’s detention under the National Security Act.
The court continued to stay portions criticizing District Magistrate Medha Roopam and ordering Rs 5 lakh compensation from her salary.
The High Court had found Chaudhary’s detention unsupported by material evidence and passed without application of mind.
Chaudhary was detained on April 11, before a Noida workers’ protest turned violent on April 13; more than 350 people were later arrested.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, the Allahabad High Court, activist Akriti Chaudhary, District Magistrate Medha Roopam, and the Uttar Pradesh government are central to the case.
- What
- The Supreme Court revised its stay, leaving operative the High Court’s decision to quash Chaudhary’s National Security Act detention while continuing to pause parts concerning official criticism and compensation.
- When
- The Supreme Court revised its order on Thursday, after issuing the original stay on Wednesday; Chaudhary was detained on April 11 and the protest turned violent on April 13.
- Where
- The case concerns Chaudhary’s detention and a workers’ protest in Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Roopam and the Uttar Pradesh government challenged the High Court ruling, which had said Chaudhary’s detention lacked material evidence and had ordered compensation.
Allahabad High Court’s Findings
Government and District Magistrate’s Challenge
Validity of detention
Allahabad High Court’s Findings
The High Court said Chaudhary’s detention order lacked material evidence and was passed without application of mind; the Supreme Court’s revised order leaves the paragraph quashing the detention unstayed.
Government and District Magistrate’s Challenge
The Uttar Pradesh government and Medha Roopam challenged the High Court’s ruling and argued that its directions against the district magistrate were unwarranted.
Compensation and official criticism
Allahabad High Court’s Findings
The High Court ordered Rs 5 lakh to be deducted from Roopam’s salary and criticized her conduct in detaining Chaudhary.
Government and District Magistrate’s Challenge
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi said the High Court’s directions and criticism were unwarranted or uncalled for; the relevant portions remain stayed.
Reason for detention
Allahabad High Court’s Findings
The High Court said Chaudhary was detained to set an example and deter others from supporting workers’ rights and exercising free speech in public spaces.
Government and District Magistrate’s Challenge
The government’s challenge disputes the High Court’s treatment of the detention and the directions against the district magistrate; the Supreme Court has paused the related observations while the case proceeds.
- Activist
- Akriti Chaudhary, a 25-year-old Delhi University graduate
- Detention law
- The National Security Act permits detention without trial for up to one year
- Revised Supreme Court position
- The court said it had not stayed paragraph 25, which quashed Chaudhary’s detention
- Stayed portions
- The court continued to stay portions concerning criticism of Medha Roopam and the compensation direction
- Compensation
- The Allahabad High Court ordered Rs 5 lakh to be deducted from Roopam’s salary
- Detention date
- April 11, two days before the Noida protest turned violent
- Protest and arrests
- About 40,000 to 45,000 workers participated, and more than 350 people were arrested on April 14
