High Court Slams Noida DM Over 'Illegal' NSA Detention of DU Student

The Allahabad High Court has delivered a scathing indictment against Gautam Buddha Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam, strongly criticizing her for the "illegal" detention of a Delhi University law student under the National Security Act (NSA). The court's remarks were sharp, describing the DM's actions as "conduct worthy of derision" and an attempt to deter citizens from exercising their fundamental right to freedom of speech.

The case revolves around 25-year-old Akriti Chaudhary, a law student who was detained under the draconian NSA following a workers' protest in Noida earlier this April. The protest, held between April 10 and 18, saw industrial and contractual workers demand better wages, specifically parity with those in neighbouring Haryana. While the protest turned violent on April 13, leading to road blockades, Ms.

Chaudhary found herself accused by Uttar Pradesh police of instigating stone-pelting and arson. Police claimed "strong electronic and videographic evidence" against her.

However, in a significant turn, a Bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Achal Sachdev on September 2 quashed Ms.

Chaudhary's NSA detention, ordering her immediate release after she had spent nearly five months in custody. The court flagged numerous discrepancies in the arrest notice and explicitly called the State's version of events a "concocted story." Ms. Chaudhary's petition successfully argued that she was already in custody before the violence broke out on April 13, and that her preventive detention was procedurally flawed and lacked factual basis.

The court also awarded her a compensation of ₹5 lakh. The High Court did not mince words, observing that the District Magistrate "desired to make an example" out of Ms. Chaudhary.

The judgment underscored that such actions aim to suppress public support for workers and discourage the exercise of free expression. The Bench went on to state that the DM was "guilty of violating oath," serving as a stark reminder to IAS and IPS officers that their allegiance must be to the Constitution, not merely the political executive.

This strong stance by the court has been widely welcomed, with some descriptions even painting the situation as "Orwellian dystopia." Meanwhile, the workers involved in the Noida protest continue to face severe financial hardship.

Many are struggling to find new employment, highlighting the enduring impact of such disputes on the lives of ordinary people.

This ruling not only offers relief to Akriti Chaudhary but also sends a powerful message about the protection of civil liberties and accountability in public office.

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