SC Halts ₹5 Lakh Penalty on Noida DM in NSA Case; Relief for Medha Roopam
SC Halts ₹5 Lakh Penalty on Noida DM in NSA Case; Relief for Medha Roopam
The Supreme Court has temporarily stayed an Allahabad High Court order, blocking the recovery of ₹5 lakh from Noida DM Medha Roopam over a controversial NSA detention case. This legal twist brings administrative accounta
In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) issued a stay on an Allahabad High Court directive that sought to recover ₹5 lakh from the salary of Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam and other officials. This recovery was intended as compensation for Delhi University student Akriti Chaudhary, who was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) following a workers’ protest in Noida this April.
A Bench led by Justice Satish Chandra Sharma froze the operation of specific paragraphs of the Division Bench judgment. The Allahabad High Court had previously quashed Ms. Chaudhary's nearly five-month detention as illegal and had been highly critical of the DM's conduct, observing a “lack of application of mind” to the police report against the student activist.
The High Court had cautioned that the continued “despotic” conduct of an errant bureaucracy could reduce Uttar Pradesh to an “Orwellian Dystopia.”
Akriti Chaudhary was among several activists arrested in connection with a protest held between April 10 and 18, where industrial and contractual workers demanded a hike and parity with wages paid in neighbouring Haryana. The protest had turned violent on April 13.
A month later, the Uttar Pradesh Police invoked the NSA against Ms.
Chaudhary, alleging she had instigated stone-pelting and arson, claiming to possess “strong electronic and videographic evidence.”
Appearing for Ms. Roopam before the Supreme Court, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that such detention decisions went through a multi-tiered process, including at Central and State levels, and his client should not be singled out for penalty. Senior Advocate Tushar Mehta, the Solicitor General of India, also represented Ms.
Roopam.
Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves appeared for Ms.
Chaudhary.
After hearing all parties, the Supreme Court ruled that the operation of the judgment, particularly paragraphs 27 to 33 relating to the penalty, would remain stayed until the matter is heard on its merits.
The Allahabad High Court had previously stated that by invoking the “oppressive provisions” of the NSA against a student activist with no prior criminal record, the District Magistrate was setting an “example” to deter others from exercising their right to freedom of speech and expression in public spaces to support labourers. The High Court had explicitly observed that the District Magistrate Gautam Buddha Nagar was “guilty of violating her oath of allegiance.”
This stay provides temporary relief for DM Medha Roopam, though the broader legal and administrative implications remain to be fully addressed. The Supreme Court has listed the case for further hearing on October 7, when the matter will be deliberated on its merits.
